It could be understood if the Helias Lady Crusaders were getting a little frustrated.
The Lady Crusaders were having the better of the play in the second half Wednesday night against the Father Tolton Lady Trailblazers. But they were getting nothing to show for it as the game went to overtime tied at 2.
“The kids have to feel it,” Helias coach Jon DeSha said. “But you have to be able to reset.”
The five-minute break before the start of overtime proved to be the right amount of time for that reset.
Lily Winegar lined a shot into the back of the net exactly five minutes into the first extra period to lead the Lady Crusaders to a 3-2 victory against the Lady Blazers.
“Lily has a fantastic team attitude,” DeSha said. “She exudes confidence and power, sometimes I feel like I can put her in and she will make something happen.”
The score gave Helias its first lead of the night.
The first four goals came in a 10-minute span in the first half.
The Lady Blazers took the lead after a free kick on a goal by Kensie Serio. Helias tied it a couple of minutes later when Alaina Meyer drilled a long shot into the net off an assist by Winegar.
Tolton regained the lead about two minutes later on a corner kick that Madison Taylor headed in near the far post.
“If a team isn’t defensively sound in the air, that can happen,” DeSha said. “But we’re getting better at it each game.
“Every day, it’s layer upon layer and hopefully by the end of the season, we can achieve what we’re trying to reach for. We’re taking it a day at a time, not getting ahead of ourselves.”
Dani Buker then tied it with a long liner, assisted by Maddie Larkin, with a little more than 12 minutes remaining in the half.
“Each game, our final third play becomes more dangerous,” DeSha said.
In the scoreless second half, Helias totaled 13 shots, including six on goal. But none found their way past Tolton keeper Rachel Tipton.
Helias finished with a 25-6 advantage in total shots in the game.
“This may give us a little momentum,” DeSha said.
Tolton, led by former Helias coach Chuck Register, is now 2-3 on the season.
“I always enjoy playing against well-respected coaches and I always enjoy getting wins against well-respected coaches,” DeSha said. “That’s what Chuck is, he always has a very good program.
“We’re continuing on an uphill grind when it comes to wins and a win against his program is a good win.”
The Lady Crusaders (5-4-1) will host the Helias Shootout this Friday and Saturday.
Helias will take on St. Francis Borgia at 4 p.m. Friday and Ozark at 4 p.m. Saturday in the eight-team event.
“Borgia will be a battle, they will definitely come to play,” DeSha said. “And Ozark will be a good game as well.”
In Wednesday’s JV game, Helias defeated Tolton 1-0.