By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Sports
Caddo Magnet’s second-seeded girls soccer team kept its state championship aspirations alive in thrilling fashion Wednesday night, eliminating No. 7 Teurlings Catholic 4-3 on Audrey Jordan’s golden goal in the final minute of sudden death overtime of an LHSAA Division II quarterfinal battle at Lee Hedges Stadium.
Jordan’s game-winner came at the end of 30 minutes of tension-packed extra time, after an intense 80 minutes of regulation play. It found the net just seconds before the referee would’ve blown the whistle to direct the teams to settle the epic, win-or-weep battle on penalty kicks.
It was her second heroic goal. The first came with the Lady Mustangs facing elimination themselves, down by one in the final minute of added time in regulation.
The triumph lifts Magnet into the state semifinals against No. 6 Lakeshore on Saturday at Lee Hedges, with the kickoff time to be settled today.
Magnet also survived on goals from Merritt Hughes and Maddie Myers. Caroline Wilemon and Toni Sapp had assists. Keepers Addison Tipton and Hannah McGuire combined for eight saves.
Fans were still getting settled when Hughes took a cross from Wilemon, and sent a shot from 25 yards to the back post into the net over the diving Lady Rebels’ keeper. The clock had not even been running a full minute.
Magnet spent the next 10 minutes peppering the goal, but unable to add to the lead. The Lady Rebels settled down and started getting the ball going towards the Lady Mustangs’ net. In the 25th minute a Teurlings forward crossed to a teammate who shot from 30 yards and drew the score even at 1. The rest of the half was filled with play moving up and down the field, with neither team taking the lead.
The second half started strong for the visitors from Lafayette, as they took charge of the ball and opportunities at goal. In the fourth minute, the Lady Rebels took advantage of a defensive miscue and put the ball in the back of the net for the 2-1 lead. Tension started to build in the stands as the home fans were looking for the equalizer. Myers answered the call when a ball popped out the box and she struck a rocket from 30 yards to tie the game.
The joy did not last long. In the 18th minute a Lady Rebels forward took off behind Magnet’s defense and beat the keeper to put Teurlings up 3-2.
The next 20 minutes were a constant push by Magnet to tie it up again. With a few injuries stopping play, there were four minutes of extra play in the game. With a minute left in added time, and Magnet desperate to score, a Lady Rebel was given a yellow card for stalling before a throw in.
With the Teurlings fans screaming for the final whistle, Magnet took the ball up the length of the field. After sending the ball on the wing to Sapp, she slotted a perfect pass to Jordan who delivered the equalizer – just in time.
The referee was bringing his whistle to his mouth to end play when the ball went in the net, setting off a wild celebration by the Lady Mustangs and their fans.
Through two full 10-minute overtimes, which extend fully regardless of the score, there was no change on the scoreboard. Both teams had chances, with defenders on both teams coming up big to deny chances. The rival crowds engaged in a battle of chants throughout the overtimes.
Stalemated, the teams went into sudden death overtime, two five-minute periods when the first goal ends the game. The tension on the field and in the stands was high, with both squads trying to avoid a season-ending mistake. The first sudden death period ended with only one ball sent close to goal.
The next sudden death period saw the ball moving up and down the field. In the final minute, the ref had just looked at his watch, about to send the contest to penalty kicks, when Jordan took the ball from the 30-yard line, dribbled towards goal, beat two defenders and tapped in the golden goal.
Photo by ANDREW YUROCHKO
