RALEIGH — The Fuquay-Varina girls' soccer team came awfully close to advancing to the third round of the NCHSAA 4-A playoffs last Thursday.

Unfortunately for the Bengals, the Sanderson Spartans scored the game-winning goal with less than five minutes to play to end Fuquay-Varina’s season with a 2-1 loss.

The Bengals (9-8-2) had defeated Greater Neuse conference champion Holly Springs 1-0 in overtime in the playoff opener, but the fifth-seeded team from the Tri-Eight Conference never led at Sanderson (10-7-3).

Fuquay-Varina senior goalkeeper Chloe Cook posted eight saves in the loss, and defenders Marissa Peterson and co-captains Michele Price and Cassie Blair also made key defensive plays to keep the Bengals close throughout.

Noticeably absent from the lineup against Sanderson was forward Whitney White. Fuquay coach James Mountford wouldn't specify why White, the team's leading scorer who provided the game-winner against Holly Springs, wasn't with the team.

It was the third consecutive year the Bengals have made the playoffs out of the always-strong Tri-Eight, and the first time in that span F-V had advanced past the first round. Now Fuquay must let go of the seniors who have made that run of success possible.

“Sanderson is a talented team,” said Fuquay coach James Mountford. “I was so proud of our girl’s effort. Our defenders are seniors and all year long our philosophy has been to play really well defensively and get one or two goals on offense to have a chance to win.”

Sophomore Sarah Yoder scored the Bengals lone goal with eleven minutes left in regulation to tie the score 1-1. Yoder outraced Sanderson goalie Kaylan Bragga to the ball and slipped it past her, giving Fuquay new hope.

Still, six minutes later Spartan junior Karri Owens iced the game with a goal off a McKenzie Porter free kick. Owens had assisted Sanderson’s first goal, scored by Diamond Russos six minutes before halftime.

F-V seniors Cook, Peterson, Price, Blair and Alanna Howard will be graduating in June.