Photo Courtesy of MP Sports Social Media (Nicole Miller)

A late lead and a first round playoff win slipped away from the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk girls soccer team Wednesday at Anamosa, as they fell to the Blue Raiders 2-1 in the first round of the Class 1A Regional tournament. The Hawks struck first, taking a 1-0 lead into half on an Elise Gingerich goal. Mid-Prairie maintained that advantage until the final 20 minutes of the match when the Raiders equalized and then took the lead for good, on goals from Ella Vaughn and Ava Gibbs. Anamosa won the match and the stat sheet, holding a 27-8 advantage in total shots, 9-4 lead in shots on goal and won the corner kick category 4-0. Niva Helmuth had nine saves in goal for Mid-Prairie, Leah Whitson had six for the Raiders.

With the loss, the Hawks close out the year at 7-8, finishing 4-4 in the River Valley Conference. They say goodbye to four seniors, Ella Titus, Evangeline Marner, Emily Curtiss and Ava Pence. Anamosa is now 10-3 and will meet Hudson in the Regional Semifinals Tuesday.