The Emporia High girls soccer team played to a 2-all tie in two overtimes against Shawnee Heights on Friday night.
Emporia could not hold on to a 1-0 halftime lead, as Heights scored twice in the second half to take a 2-1 edge before EHS answered back with a second goal to tie it at 2, ending the scoring for either side.
“It was a heck of a game,” EHS coach John Decker said. “It was an exciting game to watch — the best one I’ve seen in a while. You’d like to have the win, but hey, a tie’s better than a loss.”
Emporia’s Ashley Leihsing put the Lady Spartans ahead early on with a goal — her fourth of the season — in the fourth minute off an assist from Rachelle VanGundy that put EHS ahead, 1-0.
The T-Birds’ Corrine Shelby tied it at 1 with a goal in the 43rd minute, then Nicole Tomes gave Heights the lead at 2-1 with a goal in the 44th minute.
“At that point, you can go two ways — you can lie down or you can get some fire and come back fighting,” Decker said.
Emporia found that fight and fire soon after, as Jordan Sosa kncoked in her 11th goal of the season in the 49th minute off a pass from her sister, Bailey Sosa, which tied the game at 2.
The rest of the way was a back-and-forth slugfest, Decker said.
“The goalkeepers in this game were amazing; they made some great saves,” Decker said.
Emporia (7-4-1) will be back in action on Tuesday with a road game at Washburn Rural.
Emporia 2, Shawnee Heights 2, 2OT
Friday at Topeka
1 2 1OT 2OT
Emporia 1 1 0 0 — 2
Shawnee Heights 0 2 0 0 — 2
First Half
Emp — Ashley Leihsing (assist from Rachelle VanGundy), 4th minute
Second Half
SH — Corinne Shelby (assist from Nicole Tomes), 43rd minute
SH — Tomes (assist from Alaina Hudson), 44th minute
Emp — Jordan Sosa (assist from Bailey Sosa), 49th minute
Game Statistics
Shots on goal — Emporia 9, SH 11. Total shots — Emporia 14, SH 20. Saves — Emporia: Nuessen 9; SH 7. Corner kicks — Emporia 0, SH 3. Total fouls — Emporia 13, SH 17.