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For all the shots that banged off the crossbar, hit the post, or sailed just wide of the goal, the Susquehannock girls' soccer team was past due.
Then, in one quick 10-second sequence, all was right in the world again for the York-Adams Division II leaders Monday night at York Suburban.
After a corner kick from midfielder Mackenzie Bates was cleared out by the home team, a quick through-ball from freshman Emily Landis set up Bates in overtime. The Warriors' senior, who was wide open after the counter-attack, drove into the box and ripped a shot inside the far post to send her team home a 2-1 victor.
Susquehannock improved to 5-0 in the league with the triumph, while Suburban fell to 3-2.
"Emily played a fabulous through-ball
"There was a moment there were all my years of coaching went through my head," she said. "Go near post, go far post, pass it to the middle ... but the last second before you take the shot, it was just kind of a blank mind. Whatever happens happens."
Frustrating night: Bates' winner ended a frustrating evening for the division-leading Warriors. The Trojans got on the board first in the 15th minute when Raffy Greco blasted a 35-yard bullet inside the crossbar.
Susquehannock had many good to great chances to tie it after that but came up empty nearly every time. A shot ripped off the right post later in the first half. Then there was a rebound attempt that hit off the crossbar with a totally empty net. Early in the second half the visitors failed to convert on a break as a shot sailed wide left of the post.
"The first 20 minutes they really controlled the play," said Warriors coach Brett Maxwell. "I thought the last 20 of the first and the whole second half that we controlled the play. We had four or five really good
The Suburban defense, headed up by sweeper Jordan Shoff, helped foil some of those chances. If goalie Paige Grossman (nine saves) wasn't getting to balls in the box, Shoff was often there to clean things up.
"Shoff is phenomenal," Maxwell said. "They always play well on this field year after year no matter what players they have. It's a small field and it makes it a more physical game and that plays into their style. It's always tough coming here."
Maxwell's team finally evened up the contest at the midway point of the final half when Jess Amberman ripped a shot from 30 yards out.
Missed opportunities: Both teams had a couple of good chances to go ahead after that, but none was bigger than a PK attempt with 19 seconds left. With the Warriors threatening in the final minute, a ball was touched with a hand in the box by a Suburban player that sent Susquehannock's Jeannette Wilson to the dot to win it for her team. Wilson, however, sent her shot off the left post and out of play.
Bates felt bad for her teammate to miss in such a clutch moment.
"PKs are the highest pressure situation ever," Bates said. "I can't think of having any more pressure than that can get."
While Wilson had about a minute to think of what she wanted to do, Bates didn't have that time. That may have been a blessing in disguise for the Warriors' senior.
"In my situation we knew that even if I missed that we had time and we were still in the game," she said. "So I'd say that was less pressure than a PK."
Maxwell, who is back at Susquehannock after a stint coaching the West York girls' team, firmly believed his team would get at least one good chance to put it away in the overtime.
"I told them (after regulation) that they were going to get at least one chance," he said. "And Mackenzie did."
Suburban held a 12-11 edge in shots on goal, while the Warriors led in corners by a 5-3 margin. Susquehannock goalie Ashley Stone finished with 11 saves.
OTHER GIRLS' SOCCER
SOUTH WESTERN 2, RED LION 2 (2 OT): At Red Lion, Jordan Gebhart scored the game tying goal for the Lions with 19:48 remaining in regulation to deadlock the York-Adams League Division I game at 2-2. After two overtimes neither team was able to find the back of the net. Red Lion's Alli McKenzie scored one goal, while Tori Sprenkle and Taylor Sprenkle each picked up one assist. For the Mustangs, Lauren Gow scored both goals for the visitors.
DALLASTOWN 5, LANCASTER CATHOLIC 1: At Dallastown, Emily Ross led the Wildcats to the non-league victory by scoring two first half goals. Teammates Brittany Gurerri scored one goal and added one assist, Kelsey Druck scored one goal, Brittany Temple scored one goal, while Ali Shick, Brittany Hessler and Alaina Curry each had one assist. The Wildcats defense held the visitors to just one shot on goal.
DOVER 4, NORTHEASTERN 3: At Manchester, Dover scored all of its goals in the first half of the York-Adams Division II match. Paige Hartman connected for two of the Eagles' goals, and Kayla Miller and Maxine Herman supplied one goal apiece. Hartman, Abby Patterson and Brooke Firestone had assists for the winners. Payton Hauck delivered one goal for Northeastern and assisted on goals by Logan Neiman and Malori Bloss-Senft. The Bobcats, down 4-1 at halftime, made things interesting with two second-half goals, but they couldn't get the equalizer.
YORK CATHOLIC 3, KENNARD-DALE 0: At Fawn Grove, the Fighting Irish defense dominated in the non-divisional match. No other details were available.
-- Reach Ryan Vandersloot at sports@yorkdispatch.com.
