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‘Let’s do it for Big Daddy and Nana.’ Emotions run high for Harding Academy in Arkansas 3A girls soccer state final win over Episcopal

Wildcats head coach Angie Harlow and MVP Callie Citty dedicated the win to lost loved ones.

By Kyle Sutherland | Photos by Braeden Botts 

BENTON — An emotional embrace between Harding Academy head coach Angie Harlow and Calle Citty, the game’s Most Valuable Player, goes way beyond the triumph of completing a back-to-back 3A state championship run that the Lady Wildcats accomplished by defeating Episcopal 3-1 on Friday afternoon at the Benton Athletic Complex.

Just as Harding Academy relied upon one another to earn another championship, Harlow and Citty have done the same having endured adversity in their personal lives. Harlow is still dealing with the pain of losing her mother in December and Citty’s grandfather had been dealing with serious health issues before the championship game. Citty and Harlow’s families have been close for many years, and they decided to dedicate this game to their loved ones.

“Last night, we were texting and just said, ‘Let’s do it for Big Daddy and Nana’,” Harlow said. “That is where a lot of our emotions came in. Her grandfather is like my second dad and my mom was like a standing grandma for her. We found each other after the game and there was lots of emotion with the people who know what is going on. Last night I tried to tell them this game is important, but ultimately it is not the most important — it is your family, your love for each other, and ultimately God.”

Citty did not score a goal in the game but stood out with exceptional defense that earned her the MVP.

Episcopal (13-1) struck first in the eighth minute on a goal by St. Louis commit Sam DeLuca and threatened a few more times after that, but were held scoreless for the remainder of the game.

While discussing the game through her eyes, Citty mentioned how Harlow has been her coach in more than one sport since she was young, but their relationship has been about so much more than sports.

“I have known her all my life,” Citty said. “I just grew up with her as like another mom to me. We’re so close with their family and we’re all just connected. That was my mentality today is I have to honor them.”

Harding Academy (10-2) tied the game in the 32nd minute and by all accounts it appeared regulation was not going to be enough to decide a champion. That was until with 2:56 remaining, senior Abby White got the ball on a breakaway and scored making it 2-1.

Seventeen seconds later, Jama Akpanudo dribbled past an Episcopal defender and broke away herself for a wide-open score that all but ended the game.

“We got the go-ahead goal that was just a beautiful shot by Abby,” Harlow said. “She is a senior so that is a pretty cool way to end her high school career with that, then Jama just decided to put some icing on it and breathe a little bit and we could go back to our prevent defense so they could not get past us.”

Citty mentioned that playing from behind 1-0 like the Lady Wildcats had to do was a little bit out of their comfort zone and when the clock was winding down in the second half it began to cross her mind that she did not want it to go to overtime.

“We had momentum after scoring that goal around halftime and we had possession for most of the second half,” Citty said. “Getting the goals in those last few minutes was relieving to me and also to get that second one. Our forwards and midfielders did an incredible job of keeping the ball up there and keeping pressure.” 

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