COMMERCE, Ga. — The No. 1-ranked Commerce girls were expecting a dogfight from third-ranked Mt. Vernon in the two teams Class A Division 1 semifinal showdown on Thursday at Tiger Stadium.
Both teams got what they bargained for but Mt. Vernon scored a late second half goal to nip the Lady Tigers, 3-2, denying them a return trip to the state title match.
Commerce, who finished 19-2 and had its 17-match win streak snapped with the loss, was looking for its second straight finals after losing to Social Circle in last year’s Class A Public championship game.
The teams traded the lead three times, twice in the second half, and neither led by more than a goal. The Lady Tigers led twice, at 1-0 and at 2-1 in the second half, but could not hold on. The Lady Mustangs scored with 15 minutes left to break a 2-2 tie and then thwarted several attempts by Commerce to hang on for the win.
Commerce coach Scott Tolbert said they were expecting a tight match. It did not disappoint.
“We knew it was going to be this kind of game, we anticipated this,” he said. “They did a little better job of defending us than we did them. We had an outstanding season. We played a good game but just came up a little short.”
Ivey Tolbert, who finished with 83 goals on the season, gave Commerce a 1-0 lead on a breakaway goal in the first half. But Mt. Vernon battled back to tie the match and they went to the break tied at 1.
The Lady Tigers reclaimed the lead early in the second half on a goal by Kate Hill. But the Lady Mustangs rallied to get the equalizer midway through the second half before netting the eventual game-winner.
Tolbert said despite the loss, two trips to the semifinals and one state championship game appearance has put the Lady Tigers’ program on the map.
He credited his outgoing seniors with helping to build the foundation.
"This has been one of my most favorite teams,” Tolbert said. “Just the seniors that we have. Chloe Diaz, Kate Hill, Rachel English, Ermay Vasquez: those girls have been the genesis of our program.”
