BERLIN- The third chapter in a remarkable 2014 trilogy for the Worcester Prep and Saints Peter and Paul girls’ varsity soccer teams certainly lived up to the hype on Tuesday with a Sabres scoring a dramatic double-overtime goal to win 1-0 and claim the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference championship.
The two teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half, but both had opportunities. Worcester’s best opportunity came with 33 seconds remaining in the half when Amanda Gabriel appeared to score the game’s first goal on an indirect penalty kick. Gabriel’s high shot cleared the Sabres’ defenders and found the upper corner of the net, but confusion ensued and the goal was taken off the scoreboard.
The second half played out much like the first as neither team could score despite opportunities as the clock clicked down. The first overtime period ended in a 0-0 tie, sending the game into a second 10-minute overtime. Again, both teams had opportunities, but as the minutes clicked down and the sun set lower, it appeared the game would likely be decided by penalty kicks. However, just that fast, Saints Peter and Paul got a late opportunity with just 49 seconds remaining and made the best of it. The crossing pass found the foot of a Sabres’ forward, who was able to launch a high shot that grazed just under the crossbar and just out of the reach of the Worcester keeper and it bounced down and into the Mallards’ goal. The winning goal touched off a celebration on the field for the Sabres, who had claimed their fifth straight ESIAC title.