GIRLS SOCCER: Indians end Draft’s season

FORT DEFIANCE -  With eight minutes to play Fort Defiance found itself down 1-0 to Stuarts Draft and were minutes away from being done for the season.

But Julie Shreckhise tied things up and Leah Hamrick scored the game-winning goal on a bounce off of the post as the Indians defeated the Cougars 2-1.

Fort coach Brad Morris had wondered where his team was for the first 70 minutes, but knew his girls would give all they had to win even though he did not see a goal post being the difference maker.

With the score tied, the Indians were not about to sit back and wait for extra minutes. With all the momentum, the Indians kept the pressure on, and before long, Hamrick blasted a shot that nailed the post and ricocheted into the back corner of the net.

“They weren’t playing like the team I knew,” Morris said. “I had no idea that a post would be a factor in the game, but it did and we were fortunate it bounced our way.”

Hamrick was just looking to put a shot on net.

“I thought the shot was going to miss wide, but it hit the far post and took a nice bounce,” she said. “We just put the pressure on strong after Julie [Shreckhise] scored and played our game.”

The Indians were trailing by one with eight minutes left when Shreckhise found herself amid a clutter of Cougar defenders in front of the net. Shreckhise fought for the loose ball and drilled the shot home tying the game at one. The goal sent the crowd and the Indians bench into a wave of excitement.

“We needed a spark. I don’t know if there wasn’t any motivation until halfway through the second half or what,” Morris said. “Once we got the equalizern I knew we could win this game because we had taken the momentum.”

The Indians held onto the lead, and held the Cougars at bay for the next three minutes as the Indians advance to play another day.

“We got ourselves collected at halftime and played strong. That first goal we scored gave us a lot of momentum,” Shreckhise said. “ I knew once we tied the game we were going to win. I had no doubt s in my mind we would get it done.”

Bekah Martin scored the lone goal in the first half for Stuarts Draft after Fort was whistled for a handball. The Cougars were awarded a penalty kick that Martin blasted far post to give the Cougars the early lead.

With the victory the Indians earned a spot into Region III tournament and will be on the road Monday night against Staunton River.