Dreher header sinks Bearcats in double OT
Brookland- Cayce 2
Dreher 3
Story and photos
by Mike Maddock
Mike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Dreher's Brittany Rush tires to dribble past Brookland- Cayce's Bradleigh Birchmore. Rush scored a goal and also had the winning assist.

With just seconds remaining in double overtime at Memorial Field, Tuesday, March 6, Dreher's Brittany Rush floated a perfect corner kick from the right side of the field over the Brookland- Cayce defense. An opportunistic Ellison Sharpe waited on the left side of the goal and headed the ball into the net to give the Blue Devils a hard fought victory over the visiting Bearcats 3- 2.

Sharpe said, "I was screaming to hurry up because I knew we only had like three seconds. I tried to watch the ball the whole time and head it in."

The goal was particularly satisfying for Sharpe who appeared to score a breakaway goal at the 15:14 mark of the second half to put Dreher up 3- 1. But it was waived off after the center referee consulted with the sideline referee and concluded Ellison was offsides. Nearly 15 minutes later and seconds before the end of regulation, Brookland- Cayce's Kimberly Baston punched a rebound shot into the goal and tied the game at 2- 2.

Ellison Sharpe scored the winning goal for the Blue Devils.

"I was glad I got to score because I got to make up for the one they took away," Sharpe said.

Dreher coach David Kleinfelder was impressed with his team's resilience and said, "I've been coaching for a long time and I've seen teams so distraught by late goals, they fall apart."

The Blue Devils did not fall apart. Dreher goalkeeper Margaret McCoy made two saves in the first OT and Sharpe's header was the only shot for Dreher in the second OT, but it was all the Blue Devils needed.

Marie McGwier scored Dreher's first goal with a left footer to the top right side of the net at the 22:22 mark of the first half. The Bearcats answered with 5:17 remaining in the first when Sarah Whittle turned and booted a rocket high in the net. Dreher's next goal came early in the second half when Brittany Rush snuck behind Randall Dominguez, picked her pocket and pooched the ball in.

Brookland- Cayce (4- 2): Shots 24, Saves 11.

Goals: Sarah Whittle, Kimberly Baston.

Dreher (3- 2) : Shots 19, Saves 11. Goals: Marie McGwier, Brittany Rush, Ellison Sharpe.