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Shelby edges Forest Hills in sudden-death overtime game to advance
Girls soccer
It turned into a battle of attrition.
The second round State 2A girls soccer playoff match between Shelby and Forest Hills Saturday night at Blanton Memorial Stadium went for more than 100 minutes.
Through regulation play and two 10-minute overtime periods the two teams had played without settling anything. It would take five minutes more of a "sudden death" overtime period before a winner would be decided.
About four minutes into the session, a foul whistled on the visiting Yellow Jackets just outside of the scoring box gave the Lady Golden Lions the opening they wanted. Morgan McDaniel's penalty kick was batted away by the Forest Hills' goalkeeper but Shelby sophomore Julia Robinson was in position to direct the carom into the net for the winning goal in a 2-1 triumph.
Records: Shelby 13-7-4; Forest Hills 17-4-1
Next: The victory propels the Shelby girls - the defending Western 2A champs - into a third-round match against either East Davidson or Salisbury early next week.
Setting the tone: The Lady Lions controlled possession in the opening half but couldn't convert. Not until Forest Hills punched in a goal for a 1-0 edge did the host team come alive.
Sophomore Meghan Cantu converted off an assist by senior Patience Smith to tie the game in the final minute of the first half.
In the second half, neither side could get the advantage it wanted on the offensive end, leading to the overtime.
From the coach: "They were playing hard for 103 minutes and it was a definitely a warm day," Shelby coach David Steeves said. "We had tired legs but were able to push through.
"We just tried to have them keep their composure and give it everything they have. That's when your (senior) leadership comes through for your kids."
Key stop: Perhaps the biggest play of the night until the final kick came midway in the second 10-minute extra period.
During a flurry in front of the net, a Forest Hills player wound up facing straight on to the goal for an attempt from about six yards out but Shelby goalkeeper Julia Kiser held her position and made the catch for the save.
