UNION - A golden goal sent Helias to the state quarterfinals.
Maddie Lammers scored nearly nine minutes into the first overtime as the Lady Crusaders topped Union 3-2 in a Class 2 sectional Tuesday night at Union Middle School.
"It feels good after that," Helias head coach Brad Dempsey said of the sudden-death goal. "I'm happy for the girls. They were excited."
Kaysie Scheuler picked up the assist on the game-winner, Lammers' second goal of the contest.
"The ball bounced in the box and Maddie ran into it with her body and it went over keeper's head," Dempsey said.
Tiffany Weaver had put the Lady Crusaders up 1-0 with a goal 10 minutes into the contest. Jordan Poire got the assist. Union's Jordan Thorpe tied it on free kick seven minutes later.
Lammers got her first goal with 13 minutes left in the first half on an assist from Becky Roberts, as Helias led 2-1 at the intermission.
Kayla Thornton tied the game 12 minutes into the second half.
Helias almost won it near the end of regulation, as Taylor Hagenhoff sent a shot off the crossbar.
Union's Bethany Coons, a 44-goal scorer this season, was held scoreless.
"(Coons) was impressive," Dempsey said. "She was a load. She hit the post right off the bat before we scored (in the first half). I put Meghan Nappier on her for the rest of the game."
Helias (15-8) will play either Republic (18-6) or Carl Junction (18-5) in the quarterfinal at 2 p.m. Saturday at the 179 Soccer Park. The Republic-Carl Junction contest will be played tonight.
"It's going to be fun getting to play at home," Dempsey said. "A great day of soccer with both of us at home (Jefferson City plays at 5:30 p.m.). It's going to be a good day."
III
The Lady Crusaders landed a whopping 11 players and racked up three individual awards on the Class 2 District 10 soccer team that was recently announced.
Five of those players were first-team selections, as senior goalkeeper Liz Czarnecki and senior midfielder Hagenhoff were joined by three juniors - back Nappier, midfielder Jordan Poire and midfielder Roberts.
In addition, Roberts was named Player of the Year, Nappier was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year and Czarnecki was selected the goalkeeper of the year.
The other six Helias players made the second team - sophomore back Kaitlyn Cowell, senior back Haley Bax, junior back Abby Rockers, junior midfielder Kaysie Scheuler, sophomore midfielder Lammers and junior forward Weaver.