Indian Springs School girls’ soccer coach Hunter Gray had one expectation of his young team at the beginning of the 2010 season.

Despite the makeup of the roster each season, the Alabama High School Athletic Association Final Four remains a constant goal for the program.

Gray and Indian Springs (15-6-4) achieved the goal, but fell just short of playing for a state championship following a 3-0 loss to Guntersville in the Class 4A-1A semifinals May 7 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

Gray said Indian Springs, which lost a large senior class after last season, improved as the season progressed. The highlight was a 1-0 win over Altamont in the second round of the playoffs to reach the Final Four.

“After everybody we lost from last year, we struggled in the first half of the season as we were looking for an identity,” Gray said. “We were playing pretty well at the end of the season.”

Indian Springs ran into a tough Guntersville group in the semifinals. The Wildcats scored one first-half goal to take a 1-0 lead at halftime and added two more in the second half.

Indian Springs senior goalkeeper Sunny Poyner recorded eight saves in the loss. Senior forward Sarah Hook, a Vanderbilt University women’s soccer signee, fired three shots at the net and was the only Indian Springs player who attempted a shot.

Hook was also issued the only yellow card in the game midway through the opening half.

Quinessa Moore scored the first goal of the game off an assist from Caroline Bridges with just under 15 minutes remaining in the first half.

Melanie Stewart scored the first goal of the second half on a penalty kick less than three minutes into the half. Emma Jones capped the scoring for Guntersville with an unassisted goal at the 19:52 mark in the second half.

“Guntersville has a great team,” Gray said.