Season ends for Lady Demons in regional final
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
The gravity of the moment was simply too much for Burlington junior Merin Mundt.
The team’s leading scorer, who scored a beautiful header goal in the second overtime to send the game to a shootout, dropped to her knees.
Seconds earlier, Mundt’s shootout kick was just a little off and missed the net. The missed shot, along with another attempt that was saved, ultimately meant a 4-2 shootout defeat and the end of the Demons’ season.
On Saturday in a WIAA Division 2 regional final at Burlington High School, visiting Milton, a No. 5 seed, tied top-seeded Burlington, 2-2, after regulation.
Then, each team scored a goal in two 10-minute overtime periods before the decisive shootout.
Burlington’s Jessa Burling connected on her shot to start things out, but the Demons suffered the miss and save on their next two shots.
Milton, however, made four of five shots to steal the victory from the favored Demons.
After Mundt missed, she dropped to the grass before returning to her teammates, who were huddled at midfield. Teammate Katie Travis consoled her, but just seconds later, Milton missed their only shot in the shootout, and Demon tears turned into jumping and jubilation.
There was still a chance.
But after Burlington had another shot saved and Milton scored, it was over.
“This is the worst part of doing this,” said Burlington coach Joel Molitor, referring to the season’s final loss. “We had some uncoachable moments, to be able to execute, it was amazing. We went for it and tried to tied it at the end of overtime.”
“Shootouts are the worst way to end a soccer game. It’s never an accurate reflection of the game.”
Molitor said it’s the first time Burlington has hosted three straight regionals and the first time the team has achieved a No. 1 seed.
“We didn’t play to our usual speed,” he added. “Milton deserved to win, they played well.”
Mundt put the Demons up, 2-1, in the 75th minute, and the defense seemed like it was going to hang on for the win.
But in the 86th minute, the Red Hawks penetrated close to the Demon goal for a shot, prompting Burlington goalie Ellen Stang to challenge for the ball.
Instead of hitting the ball first, Stang inadvertently took out the Milton player, and a free kick resulted from the penalty inside the box.
Milton capitalized with an easy goal, and the game went into overtime, which was two 10-minute periods.
After Milton scored in the first overtime, Burlington turned to its Division 1 college recruit and team captain Sydney McCourt for help.
With only three minutes left in the game, McCourt made a move on her defender before kicking a perfect cross roughly 30 yards toward the middle.
Mundt battled with a Milton defender and elevated to head the ball in the right corner of the net, beating the Milton goalie.
“Merin was falling backwards and beat the goalie on the side,” Molitor said. “We worked on that play a million times.”
After the second overtime ended in a 3-3 tie, it was shootout time.
Unfortunately, Burlington couldn’t maintain its momentum.
The Demons finished the season 14-3-4 and won their third straight conference championship.
All three Demon goals came from Mundt. Stang finished with 10 saves.
Tough to lose seniors
“Win or lose, this team means the world to me,” McCourt said after the game.
Senior Natalie Dukes said she was disappointed and heartbroken after the game.
“I couldn’t be more proud to have been a part of this team,” she said.
After Mundt’s crucial miss in the shootout, the Demons felt her pain.
“The hardest part was watching her hit the ground,” said senior Madi Ibarra.
McCourt and Mundt will play on a club team together this summer before McCourt attends Division 1 Cleveland State on a soccer scholarship.
Senior Katie Travis will be playing soccer at Madison College.
Burlington will say goodbye to eight seniors, including McCourt, Dukes, Travis, Ibarra, Stang, Kaitlyn Bonton, Danielle Prailes and Julia Barros.
For Molitor, it may take some time, but eventually the pain of this defeat will subside.
“I was fortunate to have these girls all four years,” he said. “Being able to coach kids like this, it was an absolute joy.”
“I learned what girls will be able to step up and fill some shoes next year.”
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Ramczyk,
Your a fool! To suggest that “Gravity of the moment was too much” for a Junior Student Athlete is absurd. You led an article with those words. Is it gripping? I don’t think so. What were you going for?
I am the Father of successful student athletes at the High School and College level. I am proud of the commitment that my children and their teammates have made.
For you to suggest that “The Moment” was simply too much for Merin Mundt
is, like I said, absurd. Merin, her teammates, her competitors, and hundreds of thousand student athletes across the country, give 100% every day to reach their goals. Meanwhile, you sit on the sidelines taking pictures and passing judgement on student athletes with great aspirations.
Give credit were credit is due. The kids deserve it!
It’s now wonder that your not writing in the big leagues.
Merin, Good luck to you and your teammates in the future. I’m now a fan.
Brian
Brian,
I was in no way criticizing Merin Mundt, who had an excellent game and is an excellent player.
The “gravity of the moment” referred to the tears in the aftermath of the missed shootout kick.
Merin realized how big of a play it was, and the emotion overcame her. This was the biggest game of the season, and it was an emotional roller coaster. In the post-game interviews, four different seniors mentioned seeing Merin’s face and “losing it.” These girls were a family and were there for each other.
Merin’s reaction was indicative of the hard work, dedication and sacrifice these athletes put in each and every day, which I’m honored to cover from the sidelines.
To me, and to this city, these are the big leagues.
Thanks for your comment. We appreciate the feedback.
Sincerely,
Mike Ramczyk