JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – West Florida head coach Joe Bartlinski and goalkeeper Katelyn Burkhart address the media after the Argonauts' 1-1 penalty kick shootout victory over Lee on Friday night.
Joe Bartlinski Overall Statement: "Lee is an unbelievable team. They've got great players, well coached. It was going to be a greatly contested match. They came prepared to play. We were slow in the first half, getting involved in the game, but at halftime, the youngsters decided to compete in the second half. When you compete, you have a chance and we had a chance. Shantell Thompson did a great job taking her opportunities. And all credit to Lee. They're a great team, great players. Their super seniors were fantastic, and, well, we've got a couple seniors of our own and Katelyn (Burkhart) stepped up and did a fantastic job as she has done her entire career at West Florida."
How important was it for you and your team to keep it at 1-0?
Burkhart: "I mean, going down a goal is never fun, but I'm glad I could do my part and try to keep us in the game because the players have the hardest part. They have to play, you know, today they played 120 minutes so I'm glad I could keep them in the game."
What's the mindset for you entering an overtime session where it is 1-1?
Burkhart: "I mean, there's pressure, but there's really also not because I think we personally dominated in the second half. So, we knew that if we kept on playing the way where our potential was, we could either hold them out or even score a goal, but we couldn't score so I'm glad we could at least win it in PKs."
What's going through your mind going into to penalty kicks as a goalie as you're thinking about everything to get ready?
Burkhart: "I mean, it's a little nerve-racking, but you also have to stay calm at the same time. I mean, this is the one time in the game where the pressure isn't really on the goalkeeper, so you just have to do whatever you can to, when the opportunity comes, to hopefully get your team, make a save and hopefully they put it away for you."
Getting a win like this after the first half where you didn't record a shot on goal, what does that mean for you to get a win after a sluggish first 45 minutes?
Bartlinski: "Like you mentioned, we needed to keep it at 1-0. Katelyn did a fantastic job. We were getting great chances. Their keeper made fantastic saves in that second half. We had chances to tuck it away, score a couple more goals. So, the 1-0 at halftime, coach (Daniel) Correa did a fantastic job getting them motivated at halftime, our assistant, and the youngsters responded. Couldn't be prouder of our seniors who stepped it up today. We only have three and they all stepped up, did their role. And for them to win another region championship is pretty special."
What do you do over the next 24 hours to get ready for your next game?
Bartlinski: "Recover a little bit. Realize that you've got to compete in games like this, and I don't know that we did that in the first half. Recover, like I said. We've got a tremendous trainer, Casey, does a fantastic job, so our whole staff, goalkeeper coach Paul that's worked with Katelyn. We've got a great staff and I'm going to turn it over to them. I've kinda turned it over to the seniors recently and they've done a great job, turn it over to the staff and then when the game begins, I'll get up and talk to the officials once or twice during a game and do my job."
