Knights senior left wing Laura Myers has been on a tear lately for the Knights. After scoring a hat trick on her senior night, and then the game winning goal in the Knights final regular season game, Myers came up big again in the Knights playoff opener.
Last night’s 2A West Section I semifinal had a similar feel to the last time the Knights took on Oakdale. Middletown won on a 2OT goal from Myers.
An evenly played first half and excellent goalkeeping prevented any scores until late in the first half. Oakdale’s Jackie Ramsburg was able to score, and give the Bears a 1-0 halftime lead.
At halftime the Knights didn’t panic, they had been in this situation before against Oakdale. The Knights scored two second half goals to take down Oakdale 2-1 back in early October.
“[The message at halftime] was to just keep your head in the game,” said Myers. “We knew it wasn’t over.”
Middletown came out with fire in the second half, and dominated most of the second half action.
Finally, Ali Williams put a goal in the cage to tie the game at one with seven minutes left. The Knights had the momentum going into the final stretch of the game, but they couldn’t take advantage.
The game would now go into a sudden death, 7 v 7, overtime. The Knights thoroughly dominated the first overtime, but still couldn’t crack the code of the Oakdale goalie.
The game would head into the second overtime; emotions were at an all-time high. Some of the Knights were getting emotional, knowing that this could be there last time stepping on a high school field hockey field.
“I cried at least five times on the field,” said Myers.
The Knights dominance finally resulted in a goal for Middletown, just few minutes into the second overtime period.
Off a beautiful assist from senior Sami Breeze, Myers put a goal in the cage to give the Knights the victory.
“It feels amazing,” said Myers. “I couldn’t have done it without my team, they really pulled through.”
Middletown will now face the winner of today’s Winters Mill, Century game. Middletown is on to the 2A West Section I finals.
“I had so much hope for this team,” said Myers. “We did it.”
