COMSTOCK PARK – As hard as winning a state championship can be, trying to repeat can be even more difficult, and sometimes ends in heartbreak.

The North Muskegon girls soccer team learned that the hard way on Tuesday night in a tightly-contested 1-0 loss to Kalamazoo Christian in a Division 4 state semifinal game at Comstock Park High School.

The Norse battled all the way to the end despite playing in intense heat and humidity that forced the game to be started an hour later than scheduled.

The Norse, who won the state title a year ago, finished the season with a sparkling 16-4-1 record, a West Michigan Conference championship and district and regional titles.

The state semifinal appearance was the fourth in a row for North Muskegon.

“We’re so proud of them,” said Norse head coach Caleb Parnin. “The girls gave everything they had on a hot night. We’re incredibly proud of them.”

While the disappointment of falling short was obvious, junior Natalie Pannucci said she is proud that she and her teammates continue to play great soccer every year, and advance to compete on the biggest stages.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Pannucci, who finished with 19 goals this season. “We were hoping we were going to get a title again. But it’s really special to be a part of this program. We’re deep and we all really want it.”

Pannucci also believes that she and her teammates, a close-knit unit, will be back in the headlines soon despite losing four seniors off the current roster.

“We have the fire in our belly to get back for sure,” she said. “We’ve been really successful. But it doesn’t matter about the wins or losses, it’s about the relationships we’ve built.”

The Comets controlled most of the first half, and took a 1-0 halftime lead after Taylor Leonard ripped a shot into the back of the net with 11:08 remaining on the clock.

The Norse continued fighting in the second half and seemed to have a better control of the play.

“It was just a little too late,” said Parnin about the second half effort. “But for our girls to dig down and dig deep to give that extra was great. They really rose to the occasion.”

The effort almost paid off with about a minute remaining when the Norse sent a powerful shot that knocked the Comet goalkeeper backward and almost over the goal line. But the keeper managed to make the save, and ultimately the Comets were able to run out the clock and clinch a spot in the state championship game.

“It had to be sitting on the line,” said Parnin about the last shot.  “We wanted VAR (a video assistant referee), but that’s okay. The girls did a heck of a job.”

North Muskegon was outshot 7-3 on the night but goalkeeper Emma Lamiman kept the Norse in the game with six saves.