By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

HUNTSVILLE — Members of the Indian Springs School girls’ soccer team rushed to the center of the field immediately following an Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A-1A semifinal match May 13 at John Hunt Park against defending champion Guntersville at John Hunt Park.

It was a much more somber gathering than the one at the south end of the field by the Wildcats, who were celebrating a 3-2 win over Indian Springs following a round of penalty kicks, but it was just as impactful.

The Indian Springs bench rushed to console senior goalkeeper Andrea Mayo after Guntersville clinched the match with a successful kick in the final round of penalty kicks.

Indian Springs coach Hunter Gray expected nothing less from his team, which is led by a 12-member senior class.

“They are definitely a very tight group,” Gray said.

Guntersville took a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the match.

Indian Springs notched the equalizer and tied the match at 1-1 following a goal by junior Virginia Smith with 25:15 remaining in the opening half.

Indian Springs took a 2-1 lead with 19:31 left in the match on a goal by Dabney Hofammann. Guntersville added a goal with 10:08 remaining in the contest to tie the match at 1-1 and send it into overtime.

Following two five-minute overtime periods, the match headed to a round of penalty kicks.

Indian Springs and Guntersville made two kicks through the first four rounds, making the final round of kicks meaningful.

The Guntersville goalkeeper made a save on Indian Springs’ attempt. Meanwhile, a Guntersville striker beat Mayo on the right side of the net to clinch the victory for the Wildcats.