The Helias Lady Crusaders did everything they could in overtime, dominating play in the two 10-minute sessions.
They did everything except get the win. The Hickman Kewpies outscored the Lady Crusaders 3-1 in the penalty-kick phase in taking a 2-1 victory Wednesday night at the 179 Soccer Park.
"I was very happy, extremely happy with the way we played in overtime," Helias coach Brad Dempsey said. "We took it to them and efforts like that are what we've been looking for, we want to put pressure on a team in a situation like that."
Helias, which outshot Hickman 4-0 in the extra two minutes, had its best chance to get the win in the final minute of the second OT. Becky Roberts lined a shot that Hickman keeper Emily Miller got her hands on, with the ball bouncing up and then off the crossbar back into the field of play.
"Their keeper came up big," Dempsey said. "But we're going to finish those when they really matter. I'm sure of it, the girls are sure of it."
Miller came up big in penalty kicks, stopping three of Helias' four chances as Kaysie Scheuler got the lone goal for the Lady Crusaders. Erika Storvick, Molly Klein and Rebecca Wagner scored for the Kewpies.
"If you win, great, if lose, it's terrible, you always want to finish the game with a goal, but we didn't get it done," Dempsey said.
The Lady Crusaders took the lead midway through the first half when Taylor Hagenhoff booted a corner kick to the front of the Kewpie net. The ball bounced off a Hickman defender for an own-goal.
"We'll take it," Dempsey said.
Hickman tied it about six minutes later when Storvick took a great crossing pass in front of the net and knocked it home.
"We did a good job the first couple of times they tried that, but the third time, they put it in," Dempsey said.
The second half featured a lot of back-and-forth play, with neither team getting a great chance at getting the potential game-winner.
The Lady Crusaders finished with a 24-10 edge in shots, including an 11-5 advantage with those on net.
It was the regular-season finale for Helias (12-8), the No. 2 seed in next week's Class 2 District 10 Tournament at Rolla. Helias opens against third-seeded Bolivar at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
"Our schedule has gotten us ready," Dempsey said. "I know our record isn't the prettiest, but I don't care. We know what we're capable of doing and everybody is back to 0-0."
Hickman ends its regular season at 11-7-1.