Under the lights of Deem Hills Park, the Inferno 12g tied a tough Brazas team 1-1 in league play Friday night.  Paylie made 15 saves and Emma scored Inferno's lone goal from an assist by Addie to preserve the tie.  The only goal given up was on a perfectly placed penalty shot.  Inferno had their chances throughout the second half to win the game but the ball rolled just wide of the net on a couple different occasions.   It was a tough outcome to digest with one of the top ranked teams in the state coming up on the schedule just 14 hours later in Synergy at their home field.  

Saturday morning arrived and it was all hands on deck for Inferno's heavy weight clash with Synergy.  Inferno had been unbeaten in their last 11 games giving up a total of two goals. Synergy entered the game in first place at 3-0 with a +25 goal differential.  Something had to give.  The game started out with both teams getting chances.  Finally, in the 13th minute, Olivia got the ball to Emma who slipped the ball past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 Inferno lead.  Can this be possible?  Synergy would try to respond, but the defense of Evelyn, Irelynn, Caitlyn, and Maddie would keep them at bay until the 28th minute when Synergy finally managed to get one past the defense and into the goal.  It was now up to Inferno to respond.  Unfortunately, Synergy, now with momentum on their side, scored their second goal a minute later to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.  

A lot of teams might have hung their heads in this situation.  It would be easy to do, but even since last season, this Inferno team doesn't quit.  They never give up and this day would prove no different.  At halftime, they were loose.  There was a confidence that came from the sideline that this wasn't over.  They huddled up.  They swayed back and forth.  And as the cowbell rang loud and proud, they took the field for the next 30 minutes that would make or break their season.

Synergy would start back on the attack with chance after chance but Paylie was equal to the task with save after save to keep her team within the one goal.  In the 12th minute, Synergy would make a mistake.  Lainey forced a bad pass that Addie was able to intercept and get the ball into space for Lainey. It was now a foot race between her and the goalkeeper.  Lainey won that race and put the ball in the net to tie the score at 2-2.  Can this really be possible?  Olivia would answer that question less than three minutes later when she intercepted a pass at about 25 yards out.  She lined up and plastered the ball right over the goalkeepers head and under the bowing "crossbar" for an unbelievable 3-2 lead.  There were still fifteen minutes left so there was no time to let off the gas.  Anastasia kept the ball up front, Izzy took a couple shots, Ellie played tough, physical defense.  The game was counting down. 9 minutes...8 minutes...
7 minutes...then, disaster.
 
A penalty shot awarded to Synergy gave them a chance to tie the game.  Paylie would face her second penalty shot in as many games.  It was a moment that seemed to last forever.  The referee gave out instructions.  The shooter set the ball down and faced the goal.  They stared in at each other.  Paylie had made 16 saves up to this point.  Can she make one more?  The shot went left.  Paylie dove right and made the save of the season.  The crowd jumped to their feet but there was still work to do.  3 minutes...2 minutes...1 minute... As the final whistle blew, the players all sprinted to greet each other on the field.  Sirens whaled and the cowbell rang from the crowd.  High fives and hugs all around. And as the two teams shook hands in the middle of the field, the Inferno 12g were now in first place and in control of their own destiny.  Win out and it's on to the Advanced League.  It won't be easy though.  PSG is up next on Saturday.  They are 3-0 and have only given up one goal so far.  

Somethings gotta give.  We're gonna need more cowbell.