MACON, Ga. - May 2, 2023 will forever be remembered in the history of The Mount Vernon School.
The Varsity Girls Soccer team defeated the Paideia School Pythons 3-1 at Anderson Field at Mercer's University's Five Star Stadium to capture the school's first GHSA State Championship.
And they did so in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion.
Paidea opened the scoring 14 minutes into the match when Eva Young scored on a Alessia Sacchi assist to give the Pythons at 1-0 advantage.
But the Mustangs responded with 13:56 to play in the first half when Taylor Keller found herself in the box. Off a popped up deflection, she knocked the ball past the Python keeper to even the match 1-1.
"This is surreal," Keller said. "We've worked so hard to get here and have believed in ourselves. I'm glad we finished the drill when we were here."
The match would stay tied until Eden Wassersug found a ball in the box with time expiring in the first half and powered it bast the Python keeper to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead with two second to play in the first half.
"Our team never gave up," Wassersug said. "We were down in our last game and got down today, but we never gave up and capitalized on our opportunities."
After halftime, the Mustangs battled back and forth with the Pythons on free kick attempts and breakaways.
But with 1:40 remaining and clinging to a one-goal lead, Keller broke down the sideline, dribbled past two Python defenders and punched in her second goal to cement the State Championship.
"Once I got by the last defender, it was just about putting the ball in the back of the net," Keller said.
The Mustangs outshot the Pythons 9-7 on the day.
Bella Champney finished with four saves in goal to help preserve the win.
When asked what this State Championship means for Mount Vernon, Keller didn't hesitate.
"This is history," Keller said. "It's a new chapter of athletics."
And one that will never be forgotten.
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About The Mount Vernon School
Established in 1972, The Mount Vernon School, serves over 1,250 students in preschool through grade 12 on our 40-acre Atlanta campus. As a leading visionary independent school, Mount Vernon’s brand of innovation and entrepreneurship has emerged over the last decade, impacting schools in the US and across the globe through Mount Vernon Ventures, a research, strategy, and consulting division of the School. In addition, in 2021 the School launched a global online program for grade 9-12 to meet the needs of today’s flexible family. Through established partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and civic environments, our mission is to design a better world...together.
STATE CHAMPS! GIRLS SOCCER BESTS PAIDEIA 3-1 TO EARN SCHOOL'S FIRST GHSA CHAMPIONSHIP
