Overtime heartbreak: Chapin girls soccer loses to powerhouse Eastside in title match
Chad Bridges had his head down as he clutched the runner-up trophy on Saturday.
The Chapin girls soccer coach then looked and shook his head as he watched across the field as Eastside was getting its championship trophy following the 3-2 win over Chapin in the Class 5A Division II championship at Memorial Stadium.
It was Eastside’s third straight title (first in 5A) and a scene Bridges hoped to not have to go through for a second straight season. Chapin lost in the 5A state championship last season to Clover.
“I am disappointed for our seniors and our group of girls,” Bridges said. “We have a great team and a great season. I just hate it for them that they didn’t get over the line and finish it. It doesn’t take away from the great season and what we accomplished. … We will continue to grow. We have been back now twice and see if we can get back next year.”
After the match, players and coaches gathered in a circle to reflect on the season. Both players, many who were in tears, and coaches spoke during that time.
Chapin hoped that this time around it would be its turn. Its motto for the year was “Unfinished,” and some players had that written on their athletic tape.
They started the year as the preseason No. 1 in SC Soccer, just ahead of Eastside.
Chapin was dominant in its three playoff games to get to the championship, winning by a combined score of 18-0.
But Eastside, which was making its fourth straight championship appearance and first in 5A, had been tested in each of its playoff matches. All three of Eastside’s previous playoff matches went to overtime, including its win over Riverside, which was decided in a shootout, in the Upper State championship match.
That toughness showed especially after falling behind early in the match, 1-0, and then after Chapin regained the momentum following Kat Haigler’s goal in the 71st minute to tie it 2-2.
But Eastside scored quickly in the first 10-minute overtime session on Payton Nutzman’s goal three minutes into the extra period. It was Nutzman’s second goal of the game and 35th of the season.
“They (Chapin) had all the momentum going for them after that goal,” Nutzman said. “I wouldn’t say we fell apart, but we put our heads down for a second. We had to figure out what to do. I think my goal was kind of lucky, but you got to shoot sometimes and it works.”
Chapin had a couple of chances in the first and second 10-minute extra session. Eastside’s Emmy Rikard stopped a last attempt in the final seconds and kicked the ball up in the air as time expired.
“They were a little battle-tested, but that didn’t mean we didn’t know how to handle it. We just came out a little short. Hats off to them,” Bridges said.
Chapin, which fell behind early in last year’s championship, struck first on Saturday. Mayson Donahue scored to make it 1-0 in the 23rd minute. It was the sophomore’s eighth goal of the season and second of the playoffs.
The score stayed that way until the second half when Nutzman scored in the 49th minute. Camille Carter put Eastside up 2-1 on a goal five minutes later. Nutzman’s goal broke Chapin’s eight-game shutout streak, and it was the first goal allowed since April 8 against River Bluff.
Haigler then tied it for Chapin with nine minutes left after putting in a shot from Anna Grace Benson’s pass that slipped through Rikard’s hands. It was Haigler’s team-leading 21st goal of the season.
This story was originally published May 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM.
