Mahr Than Enough!

MARYVILLE - After two overtime periods and a penalty shootout, Maryville outlasted Belhaven to move on to the first-ever Collegiate Conference of the South Championship game.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Mahr came off the bench in the 85th minute as an injury substitute and helped the Scots win what is believed to be their first penalty kick victory in program history.
 
"It was a great match," Maryville Head Coach Pepe Fernandez said. "There were moments for both teams when either could have won it. There were times when we dominated the game and times when they dominated."
 
After playing to a 1-1 tie through regulation and overtime, the Scots outkicked the Blazers 4-2 in penalties to advance. Delaney Muldoon, Hannah Smoot, Anabelle Procter, and Hailey Cartt each converted on their attempts.
 
"We didn't practice it and we talked about it for a second at practice." Said Fernandez. "Then after the game, I said, 'Who's ready? Who wants one?' Nobody said anything! So my philosophy was out the door."
 
Prepared or not, the Scots showed up when it mattered most.
 
"The assistant coaches were working on a list, and the players who stepped up all hit it well." Fernandez said. "Even Sierra skimmed the bar.
 
"It's a pretty special way to win. You've got a keeper who's cold over here on the sideline and has to come off the bench and make saves. I told Sydney, 'Games like this one need heroes, and you were the one.'"

After a late-game injury to starting goalkeeper Sophie Turner, sophomore backup goalie Mahr entered the contest in the 85th minute.
 
"First off, I was really nervous about going in," Mahr said. "But JT (assistant coach Jon Taylor) talked me down. He knows this is what we've trained for the whole time. Even though I wasn't mentally prepared to go in, it became where everyone was supporting me and telling me 'You've got it.' Even the smallest things – they were there for me."
 
In her 25 minutes of play, Mahr recorded five saves and kept the game alive for Maryville, giving them an opportunity to win the match.
 
In regulation, Maryville took an early lead, scoring In just the third minute. Macy Lindsey advanced into the box from the right side, passing it to Procter, who tipped it to a charging Smoot. The freshman poked it in from six yards out.
 
The score remained 1-0 through the first half, but Belhaven tied it up on an unassisted goal from Kyla Shaw in the 56th minute.
 
The Blazers had plenty of opportunities to take control of the match, leading Maryville by a margin of 9-3 in corner kicks while outshooting the Scots 16-12.
 
Despite being outshot, Maryville was able to maintain control and keep the game tied by holding possession for 54 percent of the match, compared to Belhaven's 46 percent.
 
Maryville travels to Demorest, Georgia, on Saturday to face off against No. 1 seed Piedmont in the championship round of the CCS Tournament.
 
The Scots lost 3-0 to Piedmont on Oct. 15 and are 6-9 against the Lady Lions since 2011.
 
"They really handled us the last time and they have the advantage playing at home," Fernandez said. "We've got to go down there and play really well. They got us pretty good this year, but most of the games we play against them are 1-0. We're excited for it."
 
The championship match begins at 2 p.m.