By Thomas Grant, Jr.
For the second time in three weeks, a Chapin girls’ sports team will play for a state title.
The Lady Eagles defeated West Ashley 1-0 in the second overtime to win the Class 5A Lower State title Tuesday at Cecil Woolbright Field.
Freshman Elizabeth Kujawa had the lone goal for Chapin, who will face Clover at 1 p.m. Friday for the Class 5A title at Memorial Stadium in Columbia.
It’s their first state title appearance since 2017 when they lost the Class 4A title to South Aiken on penalty kicks. A year earlier, Chapin defeated Hilton Head for the Class 3A title.
This year’s playoff run has seen the Lady Eagles roll past Berkeley (7-0) and Ashley Ridge (10-1) in the first two rounds before the historic 1-0 win over Wando on May 4. Ahern Darcy’s goal in the first half held up thanks to goaltender Addison Bagnal who had four saves. It was the first win by Chapin over the Lady Warriors who opened the postseason with a 7-0 win over Dutch Fork.
The title hopes for the Chapin boys ended with a 2-1 second-round loss to J.L. Mann. The Irmo boys also fell in the second round of the Class 4S playoffs to Lucy Beckham.
