Meredith Mayo’s goal with a little more than three minutes left Tuesday offered little solace, but did make sure Free State avoided a shutout on Senior Day at FSHS.

Besides that Firebird highlight, Shawnee Mission South’s first-half dominance made sure seven Free State seniors wouldn’t leave their home field triumphant one last time when FSHS fell, 4-1, to SM South.

“It’s a sad thought knowing that we’ll never play on this field again,” said Mayo, a senior whose rebound score off Rebekah Berkley’s deflected shot gave Free State fans something to cheer about.

If the Firebirds could have played like they did in the second half for a full 80 minutes, Jason Pendleton might have had a happier ending for the players who were freshmen when he became coach four years ago.

“The first half we just played pretty crappy and gave them a lot of shots on us,” said Pendleton, whose 5-9 squad suffered its fifth straight setback heading into Thursday’s city showdown against Lawrence High.

“But I was proud of the way we came back in the second half. We tightened things up on defense, and we got ourselves several scoring chances. We just hit a couple of them right at the goalie and knocked a couple more right over the cross bar.”

Berkley was the recipient of most of the Firebirds’ offensive opportunities, finding herself in a handful of one-on-one opportunities, but coming up empty each time.

Free State’s best shot at a score before Mayo’s goal was when Berkley made a picture-perfect pass to senior Celese Siebert, who couldn’t convert inside South’s goalie box.

SM South, on the other hand, had no trouble notching three goals in the first half against Free State’s young defense.

The Raiders outshot the Firebirds 14-2, including seven shots from Abby Mott and Meledie Zdanek and the play of Kansas signee Lacey Novak.

Mott started and ended the scoring Tuesday afternoon for the Raiders, while Zdanek scored two goals in the first half.

A wrist injury forced FSHS starting goalie Alicia Sellon to the sideline, and senior Linsey Morningstar filled in for the injured Firebird.

Two South boots bounced off the post before Mott had a tap-in goal in the box after Morningstar deflected the ball on a diving stop.

“It was the defense, not me that really stepped it up in the second half,” Morningstar said. “Still, it was pretty exciting to get in there and see some action on Senior Day, since I don’t play a lot.”

Despite the loss and a disappointing season record, Pendleton couldn’t say enough about his graduating seniors — which also include forward Ellen Beard, and midfielders Kim Begert and Jessica Heck.

“There’s been some real frustrating moments this season,” Pendleton said. “But I’m more proud of this team than any team I’ve coached. I’ve watched these girls mature from girls to young ladies, and I’m glad to have been a part of that.”