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player ready...Since before the season started, senior defender Sophie Whiting was looking forward to Highland’s Northwest Crossroads Conference game Tuesday night at Munster.
The Trojans were in pursuit of their first win in the rivalry matchup against the Mustangs in several seasons.
Highland finally notched it, winning 4-3 in penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and overtime.
The Trojans (6-4-2, 3-2) ended a six-game losing streak to the Mustangs (9-2-1, 4-1) that included two sectional games, having last won in 2011 in PKs.
Whiting savored the moment.
“I can’t even describe it,” she said. “It’s unbelievable. It feels like it’s a dream.
“We fought really, really hard and we did it.”
Senior forward Sierra Hinkel knew the history.
“It’s been a long time coming,” she said.
Whiting started the penalty kicks by converting as the Trojans made each of their first four, with the Mustangs putting their second over the crossbar.
Munster goalkeeper Olivia Kindt saved Highland’s fifth PK off the crossbar, before Saveda Majety shot wide on the potential tying shot, setting off a Highland celebration.
“I’m happy for them,” Trojans coach Gordon Walker said. “They worked hard — they really, really worked hard.
“It’s great they experienced it because it’s great that they realize the heart and determination you play with will pay off eventually.”
Munster had won 21 straight NCC games, last losing its 2013 conference opener to Kankakee Valley. The Mustangs went undefeated each of the last two seasons and now will play Andrean (4-1), which Tuesday defeated KV, next Tuesday for the conference title.
Munster coach Valerie Pflum was disappointed.
“Highland played a really good game,” she said. “They wanted it more. They were beating us to the ball.
“This is a good lesson for my girls that you have to play 80 minutes of good, hard soccer, not in spurts. Otherwise you end up in a place where it’s do or die and you don’t always come out the winner.”
Highland took a 1-0 lead six minutes into the second half on a goal by Mackenzie Pickens. Her shot from a tough angle on the right side deflected off Kindt and snuck inside the near post.
The Trojans appeared on their way to the win, but Olivia Foley scored for the Mustangs with 10 minutes left. She blasted a shot from just inside the left corner of the penalty box, setting the stage for overtime.
Munster dominated OT. Highland goalkeeper Morgan Rinkema made a save on Priscilla Carvajal’s shot off a Majety corner kick with a minute left in the first half. With less than three minutes left in the second, Foley’s header off a Majety corner slammed off the crossbar.
“I thought we were going to get one in,” Pflum said. “We had our chances. If you’re not going to do what it takes to put the ball in the goal, you don’t deserve to win.”
Walked liked his team’s chances in the penalty kicks.
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“We practice that before every conference game,” he said. “We know our shooters. It’s just practice — have fun. They did really well.
“The game was evenly matched until the last 15 minutes, then they started to roll on us a bit. But I’m really, really happy. The heart and hustle, there’s no girls I’d rather have than these girls.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff