LACONIA – The only blemish on the Concord Christian Academy girls’ soccer team’s record was a draw against Profile in the first match of the season. It was fitting that the first team the Kingsmen faced this season would also be the last in their quest to win their program’s first girls’ soccer title.

Junior goalie Kate Smith made some diving saves and junior center midfield Makayla Baglio helped CCA create several chances, but Profile’s Ella McPhaul scored on a penalty kick in the 69th minute to lift the No. 2 Patriots (17-1-1) to back-to-back Division IV championships with a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Concord Christian (17-1-1), handing the Kingsmen their first loss of the season on Friday night at Bank of New Hampshire Stadium in Laconia.

“We came out flat. They came out strong,” seventh-year head coach Josh Winans said. “They did that to us when we played them to a 1-1 tie. We had some opportunities, but in the end they made the plays that they needed to down the stretch.”

Concord Christian had a 16-14 advantage in shots over Profile, and also had an 11-6 advantage in shots on target, but it was the Patriots who had the more quality opportunities. 

CCA junior captain Makayla Baglio, the leading point scorer for the Kingsmen with 27 goals and 18 assists in the regular season, plus both goals in their 2-1 semifinal win over Newmarket, had the most shots for Concord Christian, but Profile’s defense prevented her from getting too close to the net.

Baglio had several opportunities from distance, many of which Profile senior goalkeeper Kyah Knight (11 saves) struggled to hang onto given the wet ball and the wet turf field, but no teammates were able to get to the rebounds.

The most exciting sequence was a flurry of opportunities for both teams in the final 14 minutes of the first half. 

Profile forward Addison Koehler had a fastbreak opportunity and was just a step ahead of the CCA defense. Koehler’s low, driven attempt to the far corner forced Concord Christian junior goalkeeper Kate Smith (five saves) to making a diving save in the 26th minute. 

Just two minutes later, McPhaul won the ball in the middle of the box and fired a shot from point-blank range that Smith got hands on.

CCA sophomore Samantha Manha received a pass at the top of the 6-yard box and one-timed a strike towards goal that hit the crossbar in the 36th minute.

In the 40th minute, senior Lilli Carlile made a nifty touch to get by a Profile defender, setting up a one-on-one against Knight. Carlile’s shot went straight towards the keeper, which Knight trapped between her legs and was able to corral when it squirted free. 

Shortly after, Baglio had her best attempt of the match, a low, driven rocket of a shot through traffic that Knight needed to dive after, but managed to block.

Profile had more shots in the second half. Although both teams had attempts, none of them troubled the goalkeepers until Smith made another diving save in the 64th minute and faced a penalty kick in the 69th after a Profile player got bumped and then slipped on the slick turf in the box.

McPhaul calmly slotted her PK to the lower right corner of the net that would’ve been impossible for Smith to stop.

“Everyone played the best they could,” Baglio said. “We wanted to come out with the win. We had a few chances we didn’t capitalize on, but I’m really proud of how everyone played. Next year, we need to work on finishing and getting more shots off. Profile capitalized on the chance it had and that was the difference in the game.”

Despite the ending, the Kingsmen players walked away knowing that they had still made history as the first team in program history to play in a championship game. Concord Christian has improved steadily with this group of players, making the quarterfinals in 2020 and 2021, and then the semifinals in 2022 and 2023 before getting over the hump this year.

“It’s been incredible,” Baglio said. “All the girls, I love the girls so much. The team has gotten better as we’ve played together, not only game wise, but also friend wise. It’s been amazing to be a part of.”

Winans credited captains Baglio, older sister and senior defender Kristina Baglio and Carlile for their leadership. CCA also had strong leadership and contributions from the Smith twins (Kate in goal, Emma led the team with 30 goals in the regular season) and sophomore Annabelle Syvertson on defense.

“They set the tone,” Winans said. “All the hard work they put in gave us a shot. It’s kind of nice having almost half the team be a captain in a way. Their leadership, the soccer IQ they have, all that. Good season, just not how we wanted it to end.