The Lady Knight soccer program celebrated seniors on the team and their families on Saturday at Burgbacher Field. Pictured left to right above, with their families are: Barbara Do Nascinmento, Megan Schlabowski, Tessa Ware, Shawna Dennis, Emily Knowlton and Sophie Kinnard.

The Tyler Consolidated Lady Knight soccer team finished their regular season last week with a game on the road and the final game of the season at home.

On Oct. 24 the Lady Knights traveled to South Harrison to take on the Lady Hawks in rainy, windy 48 degree weather, returning home with the 3-0 loss.

“It was rough conditions, but it was the same for both teams,” said Lady Knight head coach Matt Kinnard.

“South Harrison played very well, but we did too. The score was 1-0 at the half so our defense was working, we were getting things right.”

“We let them get the best of us on the backside though in the second half and got beat on the cross, so we also hurt ourselves.”

Senior goal keeper, Sophia Kinnard had 10 saves in the game and freshman keeper, Vanessa Templeton, had six on the day.

The last of the regular high school soccer season was played at Burgbacher Field in Middlebourne on Saturday as the Lady Golden Bears of Oak Glen took on the Tyler Consolidated Lady Knights, handing the home team the loss, 5-0.

Kinnard had five saves in goal for the Silver while Templeton had six.

Senior day ceremonies for the Lady Knights were held immediately before game time with the six Consolidated seniors and their families being recognized for their commitment to the team.

The Silver Knights will need to replace these six next year which will not be an easy task, said the coach.

“Our seniors have had to grow into their roles and they’ve each done it their own way. I’m very proud of each of them.”

One of the seniors recognized on Saturday was last years WV Coaches Association and WV Sportswriters Goal Keeper of the Year award winner Sophia Kinnard who will be lost to graduation in June.

“It will be tough to play without Sophie,” the coach said. “She’s one of our co-captains this year, a four year letter winner and an important part of the team. She’s a very versatile and patient player and she gives everything she has whether in the net or the field in a game or at practice. She’s been a responsible, vocal leader and will leave her mark on the program.”

“Emily Knowlton has also been with the program for four years and is one our co-captains. She has grown into a positive leader and is one of those players who is unselfish and only wants what is best for the team. She has worked hard and grown into a confident player. We can always count on Emily.”

“Our other co-captain, Megan Schlabowski, has had to miss a large part of the season due to illness, but she is also a four year player for the program. She’s an outside defender whose play improved with every game. She is a big fan of the game itself, and shows it in her willingness to support the team however she can.”

“Shawna Dennis played for the first time this year and became an integral part of the team. She did whatever we needed her to do, she’s vocal, aggressive, a team player and was beginning to get a real understanding of the game. We’d have liked to had her with us for more than one year.”

“Another new player out for the first time in her senior year was Tessa Ware. She was a good addition to the team because she learned quickly and could adapt that knowledge to the field. She’s another one we would have liked to have with us for more than a year.”

“Barbara Do Nascimento was our exchange student and only with us for this year. She brought a different flavor to the team, understood the game and readily did what was asked of her.””These girls all understood their roles as seniors on the team and led the younger players with a learned, calm, patience. I’m proud of all of them and was very pleased to have them as part of our team.”

The Lady Knights began Sectionals on Tuesday in Morgantown, playing the first round against Morgantown Trinity at Morgantown. The winner of this game will go on to play in the Sectional finals at East West Stadium in Fairmont on Thursday.