‘Just a little bit more’: Rikard heroic as Eastside beats Riverside, advances to state

Eastside GK Emmy Rikard (left) made the only save in the Lady Eagles’ PK shootout upper-state championship win over Riverside. Rikard followed it up by scoring the game-winning penalty kick just seconds later. (PHOTO | PAM DUNLAP)

Eastside goalkeeper Emmy Rikard had no idea why head coach David Craig was calling her name.

Rikard’s Lady Eagles and Riverside were in the sixth round of a penalty shootout. It was the 5-A D2 upper state championship game. The winner would move on to the state championship.

Rikard had just come up with a huge save to keep the shootout tied 5-5. As soon as she got up from making the save, she heard her name called.

Craig wanted his goalkeeper to take the potential game-winning penalty kick.

“I was really confused,” said Rikard. “I didn’t think I was going to take one. But then I figured, [Craig] wants me to take one for a reason. He wants me there. He trusts me. That gave me confidence.”

Rikard stepped up and buried it. Game over. Eastside to the state championship.

It was Craig’s plan all along.

“She had no idea. I didn’t tell her. But I knew that if we got past our top five penalty takers, I was going to put her up to take one,” said Craig. “We do penalty kicks in practice, and I always let the goalkeepers take one. Emmy’s been one of the most consistent in making them on the team.

“I just wanted to surprise her. I didn’t want her having to think about it too much.”

Despite making the game-winning save and scoring the game-winning goal in the shootout, Rikard’s biggest acts of heroism came during regulation and overtime. 

The junior shotstopper made several huge saves to keep the game tied in the first 80 minutes. In the fourth and final overtime period, she made a full-stretch kick save at the near post to prevent Riverside from winning via golden goal.

Rikard had waited in the wings for years to get Eastside’s starting goalkeeper spot. In the biggest moment, she showed just why it belonged to her.

“I was nervous coming into the year, finally being the starter,” said Rikard. “But my teammates have been really helpful in talking to me after each game and boosting my confidence.”

Craig says his netminder has been “uber dialed-in” during this year’s playoffs.

“Before our last playoff game against Catawba Ridge, I could tell she was 100 percent dialed in,” said Craig. “She’s usually pretty chatty before games. But during warmups before that one, she didn’t say a word. She was uber dialed-in. She’s been that way throughout these playoffs.”

Former Eastside and current Spartanburg Methodist goalkeeper Ava Wilson, who now helps the Lady Eagles as an assistant coach, said she “couldn’t be prouder” of her successor in the net.

“She’s worked so hard to be in this position,” said Wilson. “I have so much pride seeing her go out there and get her moment.”

Eastside GK Emmy Rikard is mobbed and held up in celebration by teammates after scoring the game-winning penalty kick. (PHOTO | PAM DUNLAP)

For the Lady Eagles — who sent the game into extra time at 1-1 via a Payton Nutzman second-half goal — it was their third-straight one-goal playoff win. All three playoff wins for Eastside this year have needed extra time or penalty kicks to decide a winner.

Now, they need one more win. Just a little bit more.

“‘Just a little bit more.’ That’s our motto,” said Craig. “As a team, we talk about playing 80 minutes with everything we’ve got, and if needed, just a little bit more. Being able to push through complete exhaustion game after game, especially against formidable opponents, speaks volumes to the belief these girls have in each other.

“Each player truly plays for the Lady Eagle standing next to them.”

Eastside will head to the 5-A D2 state championship on Saturday, May 24, where the Lady Eagles will face off with Chapin. Eastside is pursuing its third consecutive state title.