By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

HUNTSVILLE — Briarwood Christian School junior forward Savannah Penny had high hopes when the Lions jumped out to an early lead in an Alabama High School  Athletic Association Class 5A semifinal match May 11 against Athens at John Hunt Park.

However, when Athens junior midfielder Grace Morgan netted two goals within a two-minute span late in the first half in a 5-2 win over Briarwood Christian in the semifinal contest, the early momentum evaporated into thin air.

“We just put our heads down and basically gave up,” Penny said. “We were stronger, but they were faster than us.”

Morgan, who led the Golden Eagles with a hat trick in the semifinal contest, impressed Briarwood Christian coach Ryan Leib with her scoring proficiency.

“(Morgan) worked hard and she was pretty crafty,” Leib said. “We got outworked. It isn’t much more complicated than that.”

Penny gave the Lions a 1-0 lead with her unassisted goal in the 16th minute of the match.

Morgan scored her first goal in the 32nd minute off an assist from Athens freshman midfielder Ashley Ward. Morgan found the net again less than two minutes later with an unassisted goal, which gave the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead at halftime.

Junior forward Juli Owens gave Athens a 3-1 lead early in the second half with her unassisted goal in the 43rd minute of the match. Morgan completed her hat trick with a goal off an assist from sophomore midfielder Riley Ridgeway in the 52nd minute to give the Golden Eagles a 4-1 advantage.

Freshman midfielder Kate Morgan pushed Athens’ lead to 5-1 with her unassisted goal in the 62nd minute of the match before Briarwood Christian junior midfielder Sara Smeltzer netted a late goal, unassisted, for the Lions in the 66th minute of the match.

Briarwood Christian goalkeeper Haley Hawkins recorded 10 saves in the match.

Athens junior goalkeeper Allie Catherine Dye finished with four saves in the match.

Leib said the Lions weren’t satisfied with the semifinal loss, but he was pleased Briarwood Christian found its way back to Huntsville after missing its annual trip a year ago.

“It was real disappointing for us not to make it last year,” Leib said. “The girls responded well this season.”