Sometimes momentum is overrated.
In the state sectional soccer game between Republic and Carl Junction, the team with the momentum could never quite hold on, and in the end, it was a late Carl Junction goal that spelled the difference in a 3-2 Lady Bulldogs victory.
In the first half, a goal by Carl Junction gave them the early momentum just three minutes in. The Lady Bulldogs dominated play in the first half, and just 13 minutes later, Taylor Beck headed the ball over the arms of Republic keeper Taylor Patton to give Carl Junction a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, Republic overcame the Carl Junction momentum by picking up the intensity, but couldn’t get on the board until Sara Marcotte dribbled from the left wing and launched a crossing shot into the right side of the net to make the score 2-1.
A few minutes later, Sierra Casagrand arched a shot from right to left over the Carl Junction keeper from about 25 yards out, and the teams were tied with 15:45 to go.
With about 12 1/2 minutes left, Republic appeared to catch the break of the game, when one of Carl Junction’s players earned a red card for pushing Sara Marcotte to the ground from behind. But playing short-handed in the final 12 minutes, the Lady Bulldogs managed to maintain control.
With about 30 seconds left, they scored the game-winner on a 25-yard shot that crossed left to right just out of reach of Taylor Patton, rolling into the back of the net to send Carl Junction to the quarterfinals.
Carl Junction advances to play Helias in Jefferson City in the quarterfinals Saturday.
