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SANDY — In a high-scoring showdown for the 2A girls' soccer championship, Rowland Hall continued its reign with a thrilling 4-3 victory over St. Joseph.
The Rowland Hall Winged Lions are certainly no strangers to championship games, and this victory marked their sixth title in the past seven years.
The evening kicked off with a bang when St. Joseph's Sophia Evans found the back of the net, giving the Jayhawks an early 1-0 lead. However, their advantage was short-lived.
Just a minute later, Rowland Hall's Paige Connery capitalized on a penalty kick, leveling the score at 1-1.
The remainder of the first half showcased an intense back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading shots on goal. But it was Zackrie Smith who took the spotlight.
With only five minutes left in the first half, Smith expertly put the ball into the net after outmaneuvering St. Joseph's Flores in the box. This senior standout went on to score a total of three goals, leading her team to victory.
The second half began with the Winged Lions holding a 3-1 lead, but St. Joseph's Evans found the net for the second time, cutting the lead to just one. Evans' second goal of the night marked her 30th of the season.
Within 30 seconds, Rowland Hall answered back through Smith, who displayed remarkable determination, pushing her way through the defense and scoring to reestablish a two-goal lead for the Winged Lions.
As time ticked away, it appeared that Rowland Hall was on the path to yet another title. Still, the Jayhawks weren't ready to concede defeat. Forward Abigail Gough managed to elude Rowland Hall's defense and scored unassisted, narrowing the score to 4-3. However, the Winged Lions' defense held firm, securing the 4-3 victory.
At the final whistle, Rowland Hall celebrated their back-to-back 2A state championships and rushed onto the field.
