A penalty shootout always brings out a contrast of emotions. For the winning team, it is joy and exhilaration. For the losing side, it is heartbreak and dismay.

The Columbia girls soccer team was on the losing end Friday night, falling to Alton Marquette in penalty kicks in the sectional championship game at Columbia High School.

It was a battle from start to finish. Both teams pressured early, and it was the Eagles who struck first at 10 minutes into the game. Casey Wood chased a long pass down the sideline, cut into the box, and fired a bullet into the back of the net to give her team the lead.

Columbia then had to work to keep Alton Marquette’s potent offense in check, and for most of the half, they did. The Eagles broke up several chances, and goalkeeper Alison Riddle made some big saves, including an incredible lunging stop to prevent a goal with eight minutes left in the half.

Riddle could not, however, stop the Explorers’ next shot, a rocket from 30 yards out that tied the game just before halftime.

Both teams kicked it up a notch in the second half, and the tension heightened. The Eagles and Explorers battled back and forth, and there was plenty of end-to-end action, but Columbia seemed to have more scoring opportunities. Lauren Kaempfe was robbed by the Marquette keeper on multiple occasions as the score remained tied midway through the second half.

The Eagles finally broke through with about 20 minutes left in the game. A shot from Kaempfe deflected off of the Explorer goalie and ricocheted around the box before landing at the feet of senior Claire Hausmann, who booted it across to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

With 14 minutes remaining, freshman Blair Wittenbrink made what appeared to be the play of the game at the time, clearing a ball off the line to keep her team in the lead. But it wouldn’t matter. Mere minutes after Wittenbrink’s play, Marquette tied the game on yet another deep blast.

The game went to overtime and neither could find the net. The teams remained deadlocked at 2-2, meaning the game would come down to a shootout. Riddle made an incredible save on Marquette’s first penalty shot, but the Explorer keeper answered with a save of her own, stopping Lauren Tolan’s shot.

The game would be decided in the fifth round of penalties. The Explorers’ fifth shot soared just out of Riddle’s reach and into the net. The Marquette keeper then made a superb save

on Rachel Ribolzi’s penalty shot to give her team the sectional championship and end the Eagles’ season.

“It’s tough to lose like that,” Columbia head coach Steve Ross said, adding that his team played well enough to win.

Columbia advanced to the final with a 2-0 victory over Mater Dei last Tuesday. Ribolzi sent a perfect corner kick to Tolan, who nodded it into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Fifteen minutes later, the Eagles scored again on another corner from Ribolzi. This time, the senior found the foot of Madelyn Juenger, who booted it across to give her team a commanding 2-0 lead.

Marquette posted a 2-0 victory over Gibault in the other sectional semifinal, ending the Hawks’ season. It was the second time this season the Explorers and Hawks faced off, with Marquette coming away with a 2-0 win on April 29.

Gibault came out with energy and established control early on, just missing on several good scoring opportunities. The Explorers regained some control, and had a few chances of their own, but both defenses stood strong, and the teams went to halftime deadlocked at zero.

Marquette wasted no time capturing the momentum after the break, scoring just 40 seconds into the second half.

Hawks goalkeeper Kendra Davis made some great saves to keep her team in the game.

Gibault finished its season with a final record of 10-11-1.

Waterloo ends season

The Waterloo girls also lost Friday night, as the Bulldogs’ season came to a crashing conclusion with a 6-1 loss to rival Triad in the regional championship game.

The Knights jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead at halftime, and the Bulldogs were unable to recover. Darby Nugent scored Waterloo’s lone goal.

It was the third time this year the Bulldogs lost to Triad. Waterloo coach Chad Holden had nothing but praise for his opponent.

“They are very good,” he said. “They go a lot deeper than we do.”

With the loss, the Bulldogs finished the season at 16-6-1. Despite the disappointing defeat, Holden was pleased with what his team accomplished this season.

“I thought we had a great year and I am very proud of the way our girls played throughout the season,” he said.

Furthermore, Holden thinks his team can be just as good — if not better — next year. Waterloo will lose five seniors to graduation, but the core of the team will be back.

Waterloo reached the regional title game by defeating Highland, 2-0. Erika Lloyd and Alexis Wheeler scored in the victory.