After a terrific run in the playoffs, the Fountain Hills High School girls soccer team lost in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

On Feb. 13, the Lady Falcons played Northwest Christian to see who would advance to the finials. FHHS lost the match 3-0 and Northwest Christian went on to win the championship.

The first goal of the match came at the seventh minute in the first half.

“Northwest Christian struck first when the ball was crossed in front of the goal from the right forward position, which Fountain Hills keeper Bayley Dumitrescu was able to get to first and deflected the ball away,” head coach Matt Wiehl said. “But a NCS player got on the end of that ball for the opening goal.”

The Lady Falcons struggled to gain a solid offensive rhythm following that early goal from their opponents.

“Northwest Christian was able to utilize long, flip-style throw-ins,” Wiehl said. “Which Fountain Hills was unable to completely clear away while, again, Northwest Christian was able to pick-up the trash for similar goals at the 35th and 37th minutes.”

These last two goals before the end of the half were critical, Wiehl said, as it “put us in a deep hole which created quite an obstacle for us heading into the second half.”

The Falcons came to play a much more composed and better game in the second half, resulting in better possession times.

“Although the Falcons’ scoring opportunities were few,” Wiehl said, “Fountain Hills held Northwest Christian scoreless and played with a ‘never give up’ spirit.”