Win and advance is what it's all about at tournament time and the South Oldham Lady Dragons did just that in overtime, as they defeat a tough Greenwood team 3-2 in a late night semi-final at Georgetown College. The New York Yankees won the World Series in '98, '99, and 2000 and SOHS won the State Championship in '98, '99, and 2000. This year the Yankees just completed two come from behind victories in "extra innings" and SOHS just completed two come from behind victories in overtime. If you're superstitious, PULL FOR THE YANKEES!!!
The Greenwood game was in a way, a mirror image of the Assumption sectional game in that the opponents scored first, South came back to tie it and then take the lead. The game would be tied in the second half forcing overtime and a Wilson would net the winner in the end. The similarities ended there however as Coach Tucker started a new lineup that featured Missy Rabold, Andrea Schott, and Ally Tucker. Also, Emily DeYoung's minutes were limited by soreness in her injured ankle after her couragous effort playing all of the Assumption game.
The Dragons put an early scare into the Lady Gators as just 40 seconds in, their goalie found herself out of position while Lauren Wilson got a shot that just missed wide right. But Greenwood quickly settled down and started controlling play. While winning most of the 50/50 battles, the team from Warren Co played much too long on the South Oldham side of the field. They threatened with a throw-in deep in Dragon territory at 33:54 and fired a dangerous bouncer at 32:22 only to be stopped on a nice save by Anna Simpson. A couple of Greenwood free-kicks over the next several minutes kept the pressure on, then after having been in front of the Dragon goal for a good two minutes, the Lady Gators scored on an arching kick from the 10 yard line that found the back corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Up 1-0 Greenwood had done a good job having players step in front for the ball, outduelling South for 50/50 balls and wrecking havoc on the Dragon's passing game and SOHS had trouble winning advantage on throw ins. Suffice it to say, the Lady Dragons were struggling to maintain continuity out there which put a lot of pressure on Simpson and her defenders who repeatedly had to step up to reverse the Lady Gator attack.
Then with about 19 minutes, Jennifer Sibert received the ball just across midfield and raced it down the left sideline, cut in through several defenders and punched in the tying goal with 18:48 left in the half. Greenwood answered with a shot on goal mising wide left a minute later and the teams continued to battled midfield for control over the next nine minutes. With under 10 minutes in the half Claire Workinger set up a great give-n-go play when she sent Sibert a pass who carried it up the line before cutting back and finding Workinger who had raced to the box to "slam" it in for a 2-1 lead.
The Dragon defense held Greenwood at bay the rest of the period only giving up one decent shot at 8:42 that missed wide left, and got some strong minutes from Beth Morris late in the half. South had some chances to stretch the lead when Emily Cobb just missed a header wide left off a Sibert free-kick at 7:05 and Hay had a strong shot on goal at 6:20 saved by the goalie. With just 30 seconds left, Jennifer Wilson passed to "Cobber" in front of the goal who's shot was deflected and picked up again by J. Wilson for another shot saved by the goalie. South Oldham led at halftime 2-1.
With the offense still struggling to finish and still not being able to control the field of play the defense carried the load in the second half, much to the credit of Katie Moore who was definitely the defensive player of the game for the Dragons. Stephanie Hay got the period started with a shot early in and was fouled giving South a free-kick that missed high at 39:03. The Gator goalie grabbed a Hay looper at 35:48 and Katie Moore missed wide right after a corner kick at 34:00. Then, Bad Luck" struck for the Dragons when with 31:52 remaining, Greenwood crossed from the right, just by Hay who turned to chase it down, but slipped and fell, which enabled a Lady Gator to take it to the center and shoot around Anna who had no chance for the stop. The score was tied 2-2.
SOHS had a great chance to retake the lead when Cobb led Sibert with the kickoff, but who's shot glanced off the left post. After a Wilson shot was deflected over the endline, Sibert hit a curving corner kick, but the goalie made a great save in the air at 21:00. The teams battled for control over the next 10 minutes. South got two nice defensive plays by Moore during that stretch. With just over 17 minutes, Jennifer Wilson headed a corner but the goalie grabbed it. With 13:10 remaining, Amanda Nivens saved the day when she cleared a loose ball after Anna had come out and couldn't get to it. The Dragons had another great opportunity to finish at 7:25 after a corner by Sibert bounced around in front of the goal, the goalie was out, but no one could get a foot on it. Katie Moore made yet another great defensive play at 4:00.
Greenwood's chance to win in regulation came when SOHS was called for a foul giving the Lady Gators a free-kick from the middle with 3:15 left. The kick went left but through the hands of Simpson giving up the corner. At 2:30 Lindsay Hagan tapped the corner to Sibert who tried to clear it, but Greenwood stopped it for a shot that Anna caught to end the threat and settle the nerves of us fans. South got one last chance to score when Andrea Schott kicked a looper to Cobb for a header that missed wide right at 1:33. With the game tied at 2-2, it would be two 10 minute overtime periods.
The Dragons looked tired in the overtime and could not muster a serious offensive threat, but the defense held tough. Greenwood had a shot with just under 7 minutes in the first overtime period that was deflected over the endline by Simpson. The Lady Gator corner glanced off the post and frightfully bounced around in front but they couldn't finish. The score remained 2-2 going into the second 10 minute OT.
With the defense holding their own, South held the offensive advantage in this 10 minutes threatening first when Lauren Wilson missed wide right at 5:54. South got a corner at 5:10, but a poor kick was easily cleared. Sibert was fouled at 2:14 but the goalie nabbed the looping free-kick. Now, with under two minutes remaining in the second 10 minute session of overtime in the State Semi-final, the pressure was building.. The fans were on edge. And "when the going gets tough" it's WILSON TIME !!!!! Katie Moore was fouled at 1:45 and Lindsay Hagan advanced the free-kick to Sibert who crossed but the Dragon shot was deflected over the endline for a corner. Sibert's corner was touched in the box by Hagan, to Jennifer Wilson who refused to be denied as she fought her way through the myriad of players in the box to punch in the "winner" with only 1:22 remaining in overtime. Hagan cleared the last Greenwood advance with a minute left to preserve the win, and the South Oldham Lady Dragons advance to their 4th straight State Final in a row!!!! Whew!!!!
