The Helias Crusaders opened their new soccer facility with a win Saturday afternoon.
It just took a little extra time to do it as a goal with :16.8 remaining in the first overtime period lifted the Crusaders to a 3-2 victory against the Hannibal Pirates.
"This was a great win for us, great to win on our new home field," Helias coach Jay Hebenheimer said.
Helias has been practicing on its field at the Crusader Athletic Complex, but with construction continuing at the facility, Saturday was the first opportunity to host a game.
"We've got all of our things here now," Hebeneheimer said. "We're still adjusting to it, but it's going to be outstanding to be here all the time."
Hannibal wasn't a pushover Saturday. The Pirates tallied the lone goal of the first half, that coming with :21.2 remaining, to take the lead into intermission.
The goal came on one of two first-half shots for the Pirates. On the other side, Helias finished with 17 shots, including five on-goal in the opening 40 minutes.
"There are times that we look good, when we are connecting on passes and controlling the ball," Hebenheimer said. "But then we get into some bad habits and we don't look so good."
Hebenheimer used the intermission to stress some things needed to be cleaned up on the offensive end.
"I tried to get their attention at halftime," Hebenheimer said. "We are a much better team than we showed in the first half and we needed to play like I know we are capable in the second half."
Helias then scored twice in less than a minute early in the second half to take the lead.
With 30:41 left, Nick Brandt scored off an assist by Matthew Schulte to tie the contest at 1. At the 29:42 mark, Elliott Lammers scored to give the Crusaders the lead.
"We were playing like I think we should play," Hebenheimer said.
The Pirates tied the game with a goal with 4:45 remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.
In the first 10-minute overtime period, Brandt was credited with his second goal of the contest to give the Crusaders the win. The score came on an own-goal by the Pirates.
Hannibal is now 15-4.
Helias (10-6) is back in action Tuesday at home against Jefferson City.
"That's going to be a big game, this place will be packed," Hebenheimer said. "I don't know how much scoring there's going to be in the game, so whoever gets the first one will get a big leg up."
The JV game will start at 5 p.m., with the varsity contest to follow around 6:45 p.m. The games were originally scheduled to be played Monday.