Lady Titans eliminate Oxford in 103rd minute

The Lady Titans and the Lady Chargers from Oxford fought in a classic duel in Oxford for the right to advance to the North State Finals. Earlier in the day, Pearl HS defeated Pontotoc 3-1 to await the winner. Each team would come out fast. In the game’s first ten minutes, each team would have three shots on goal. Oxford keeper, Kiara Mathis, would make several saves as the Lady Titans took numerous shots on goal before the half. As it has been in most Titan matches this year, the team conceded no first half goals to the home team. The second half started out on a negative note. Oxford scored in the 41st minute of play off a cross and chip. The Lady Chargers would then sink up to nine players back on defense for the duration. Despite numerous attempts, the Titans could not find a goal. Senior forward Becca MacNeill just missed the equalizer by inches. Oxford continually sent long drives out of their defensive end to a waiting keeper, CJ Winship, and she sent them back in. With less than five minutes to play, Oxford played a ball out of bounds. Freshman midfielder Sloan Bancroft quickly threw the ball back into play. Senior midfielder Kelsey Givan made a move and put the ball to the feet of senior forward Angie Smith. Mathis never saw the ball coming through the pack of players. The score would stay tied until overtime. In the first extra period, the Lady Titans took several shots that were near misses. In the second overtime period, neither team could muster much offense. For the first time in Lady Titan history, a game would go to a sudden death 5-minute overtime. The Lady Chargers would take the first shot of overtime, but the Lady Titans would take the last. Chelsea Tidwell, Oxford’s most valuable player, fired a low shot that Winship saved. She immediately jumped up and sent a punt well over the midfield stripe. The ball cleared the backline and found a streaking MacNeill. She blasted a shot past the Oxford keeper into the back, right corner. The goal ended the 103-minute contest and the Lady Chargers season at 22-2. It was MacNeill’s eighth game winning goal this year. The Lady Titans will face the Lady Pirates from Pearl for the third time this season in the North State Championship game. The game date and time have not been confirmed.

Posted by: coachwinship

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