AHS falls to Mountain Brook in final

PAUL ROBINSON
For The Opelika-Auburn News
Published: May 11, 2008

HUNTSVILLE — The Auburn High girls soccer team, making its fifth straight final four, jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when MK Reeves scored a goal just 7:17 into the game.

The early euphoria wouldn’t last, however.

Mountain Brook roared back to defeat the Tigers, 5-1, on Saturday at John Hunt Part to win the girls Class 6A soccer championship.

It was Mountain’s Brook’s first title since winning back-to-back crowns in 1994 and 1995.

Auburn coach Mac Matthews remained positive following the loss after his team made its fifth straight appearance in the state tournament. Saturday marked the team’s first appearance in the championship game.

“We gave everything, but our tanks were empty at the end,’’ Matthews said. “This is another step for our program. We are very cognizant of what we are trying to build at Auburn around the beautiful game of soccer.”

The Spartans tied the game with 8:30 remaining in the first half when Bonny Lepley, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, scored the first of her two goals.

Mountain Brook never looked back.

Mary Morgan Weed, Anna Meisler and Margaret Page all scored goals in the second half.

Matthews felt there were several factors in Mountain Brook’s ability to pull away late in the game.

“They were bigger, faster (and) stronger at most positions,” he said. “They have the Birmingham blessing, in that they have most of their girls playing in Division I clubs in the offseason. That really helps. Those girls have played against teams who are as big and fast and strong as they are. They had a little more left in the tank than we did.”

Mountain Brook goalkeeper Stefanie Spielberger had one save in the win.

The Spartans finished the year undefeated at 24-0-3. The Tigers fell to 15-6-3.

With the program’s most successful season to date now over, Matthews said he looked forward to building on his team’s success.

“(Getting to the title game) was the next step that our program needed to take,” he said. “After five straight final fours we needed to get to the title game, and we did it. Our seniors did a good job of keeping us focused. We were up, 1-0, for a good 30 minutes and tied at the half. We just ran out of gas. I’m very proud of what our girls did. Our seniors have created a legacy that’s going to pay dividends for years to come.”