The soccer gods let the Elco girls have a lot of fun this season.  But they sure know how to be cruel, don't they?

An unforgettable late summer and fall that included section, league and district championships for the Raiders, not to mention 22 straight games without a loss, came to an abrupt halt Tuesday night in an excruciating loss to Lewisburg in the opening round of the PIAA 2A state playoffs at Cedar Crest.

After battling with the District 4 runner-up for two scoreless 40-minute regulation periods and two 15-minute overtime frames, Elco (21-1-1) finally met its end in a gut-punch session of penalty kicks, by a 4-2 count. After Raider keeper Madi Bailey denied the first PK try, Lewisburg converted its next four attempts, and Elco could only answer with scores by Ryelle Shuey and Jordan Rosengrant.

But the Raiders actually suffered their first loss of the season long before PKs, during a maddening stretch of near goals and just missed opportunities that made up a good part of the second half and the overtimes.

As head coach Derek Fulk noted, sometimes in soccer the best team doesn't always win. That's not a knock at Lewisburg, which fought for and earned their win. But the Raiders know how close they were to extending the magic a little longer.

"To me, we've gotta finish our chances," Fulk said. "That's all it comes down to. I definitely thought we were the better team, but you gotta put something in the back of the net. We couldn't get it done tonight, unfortunately. It's just one of those things, you know?

In the end, Elco held a 9-3 shots advantage but the difference in quality scoring chances seemed even greater as offensive stalwart Shuey, Tanisha Grewal, Cassie Johnson, Katelyn Rueppel and Natalie Swingholm seemed to create one golden opportunity after another, only to see it not come to fruition.

"I thought we created a lot of good things," Fulk said. "I thought we dominated the second half. First of all, you gotta put stuff on frame, which is a big thing, and make the keeper make a save. And she (Lauren Gross) did, she played well. She definitely. But like I said we had chances. We just couldn't put one in the back of the net."

Chances are, given the way Elco controlled the play in the second half, it would have broken through with a goal eventually. But every team is well aware that if you can't put one in during the 15-minute OTs, it comes down to penalty kicks.

It's a rotten way to lose, but that doesn't mean it's unfair. 

"I don't know that it's the best way to do it," Fulk said. "I'd rather keep playing. But that's the way of the world right now. What are you gonna do?"

For Fulk, the only thing left to do this season was to speak with his team about the loss, which he had yet to do before he spoke with reporters.

"I know they're disappointed," he said. "Obviously they had higher hopes for this state playoff run. But they have nothing to be ashamed of by any means. It's one game where things didn't go our way. What they accomplished this season is unbelievable. It's amazing."

What they accomplished was: Winning a fourth straight Lancaster-Lebanon Section 3 title, their first overall league title by dispatching bigger schools Ephrata, Hempfield and Conestoga Valley, and their first district championship in 15 years by topping Pequea Valley, James Buchanan and Boiling Springs by a combined 14-1 score.

But as great as all that was, it couldn't protect them from a bitter end Tuesday night.

"We're still going home," Fulk said. "We're not going to the next round. That's the hard part."

Elco 0, Lewisburg 0

(Lewisburg wins, 4-2 in penalty kicks)

Lewisburg 0 0 0 0 - 0

Elco 0 0 0 0 - 0

Shots: Elco 9, Lewisburg 3

Saves: L - Lauren Gross (7 saves), E - Madi Bailey (1 save)

Corners: Lewisburg 5, Elco 4