Callaway falls in region championship game

Published 8:07 pm Tuesday, March 26, 2024

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The Callaway girls soccer team fell agonizingly short against Landmark Christian on Tuesday, losing 3-0 in a game that served as the Region 2-5A championship.

The first half was a cagey affair with neither team able to break the deadlock. Isla Garcia had a couple of clear-cut chances just five minutes into the game, but the War Eagles goalkeeper was more than up to the task with a double save.

Just six minutes later Landmark at its first real clear-cut chance of the game when Alayna Leithleiter had to get down to make a save in a 1v1 opportunity. 

The first half was back-and-forth from there with the Cavaliers having the next chance when a game shot from outside the box from Sofia Flores was comfortably saved by the opposing keeper.

The War Eagles saw a shot go just wide of the post as well as another save from Leithleiter in close quarters as they were left shaking their heads.

Callaway’s last real chance in the game came in the final seconds of the first half when Garcia sent a volleyed shot just wide of goal.

If the first half was anybody’s game, the second half was all War Eagles. The home team dominated the second period from the opening whistle to the final one.

It looked like Landmark would make it 1-0 just five minutes into the second half, but Leithleiter again came through with the goods in goal to produce a show-stopping save.

Unfortunately, Leithleiter’s heroics would not be enough as the War Eagles broke through just seven minutes into the second half. Callaway’s deficit was doubled just a minute later and the Cavalier sideline slumped as their hopes for a first region title in program history slipped from their grasp.

Landmark added a third goal with 22 minutes left in the game as the Cavaliers were left further deflated.

The loss was Callaway’s first in its last eight games, dropping the team to 9-5 overall and 5-1 in region play. The Cavaliers will finish second in Region 2-5A and will host a playoff game in the opening road of the playoffs. The Cavaliers will have some time-up games before the postseason starts with a matchup on the road to North Springs on Thursday.