This was a game neither team wanted to lose. And they played like it.
Matthew Schulte's goal inside of two minutes remaining in the first overtime period sent the Helias Crusaders to a 2-1 victory Tuesday night against the Fatima Comets at the 179 Soccer Park.
"It was a good composed finish by Schulte to get the game-winner," Helias coach Michael Metzger said. "He's done that a couple of times for us this season."
On the play, Sam Heckart fed the ball to a sprinting Schulte down the right side.
"It was a great ball in from Sam," Metzger said.
Schulte was able to line the ball into the net to end the contest.
Even though it was Fatima's first loss of the season, Comets coach Kirby Keth was happy with the way his team played.
"It wasn't our best game, but it was a pretty good game," Keth said. "Games like this makes you tough."
The Comets were a man-down for the final two minutes of regulation and overtime after a player received his second yellow card of the contest. That changed Fatima's strategy a bit.
"We had to play a little more defensively, especially with the fatigue factor," Keth said.
The goal came on Helias' fifth shot of overtime.
"We just wanted to move the ball and get forward," Metzger said. "We just wanted to take it at them."
Helias got on the board with about six minutes to go in the first half. On a restart, Isaac Johnson fed Nick Brandt, who knocked it in to the net on a designed play for the Crusaders.
"I have to give credit to Isaac and Nick for calling the play on the field," Metzger said.
That was the first goal allowed in the run of play by the Comets in five-plus games this season.
The Comets weren't down at intermission despite being down on the scoreboard.
"We knew we were still in it, we have some dangerous tools," Keth said. "It's just a matter of making a couple of good passes, it doesn't take much time for us to get something going on the offensive end."
The Comets tied it with a little more than 27 minutes remaining. Lucas Rehagen's shot bounced off the hands of the Helias keeper and Chad Angerer was there to put back the rebound.
"I'm so proud of this team, we've played so hard all year and haven't backed down from anybody," Keth said.
The two teams then traded rushes in an attempt to end the contest in regulation.
"I think both teams had opportunities to take care of things in regulation," Keth said.
Fatima keeper Josh Kinkelman made a handful of outstanding saves to keep Helias to one goal through regulation.
"He's played well all year," Keth said. "He's just as consistent as can be. Plus the defense has done a good job in front of him, we are the total package on defense."
Metzger was impressed.
"You have to credit their keeper, he made some incredible saves to keep them in the game," he said.
Helias finished with a 28-11 edge in total shots.
"We had some chances we should have finished, but it's going to come," Metzger said. "Once we start doing that, we're only going to be more dangerous."
Helias (5-3) will host Sedalia Sacred Heart at 6 p.m. Thursday. An abbreviated JV game will follow.
Fatima (5-1) returns to action Friday and Saturday at the Moberly Tournament.
In Tuesday's JV game, Helias defeated Fatima 5-1.