EVANSVILLE - Two minutes into overtime, Evansville's Cody Pinnow and Monroe senior defender Nick Gross battled for a ball after a cross by the Blue Devils.
Pinnow was able to stretch and punch in the game-winning goal to give Evansville a thrilling 3-2 win over Monroe in a WIAA Division 2 regional championship game Thursday night. Both teams played each other earlier this season and tied.
"It was just a foot race to see who could get there faster," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "(Pinnow) barely got his toe on it. They were both battling for the ball. There is nothing more Nick could do."
Vasquez was proud of his team for being on the brink of advancing to the sectional. With the loss, Monroe finished the season 10-8-3.
"It was obvious they left everything out on the field," Vasquez said. "Evansville has been ranked in the top five of Division 2 most of the season. They proved they could play with one of the top teams."
Monroe junior Taylor Teasdale had one goal and one assist to lead the Cheesemakers. He scored at 12:43 on an assist from senior Jesse Keizer to take a 1-0 lead. Evansville's Andrew Cressnell tied the game up on a penalty kick at 35:59. Monroe senior Corey Flannery then scored the go-ahead goal on an assist from Teasdale at 41:05 to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead.
Evansville's Will Elain answered back with a goal with about 4:30 to go, sending the game into overtime.
"It was a very tough game," Vasquez said. "I knew the kids had expended a lot of energy. I was hoping the game wouldn't go to overtime. I didn't say much after the game. They left it all out on the field."
Pinnow was able to stretch and punch in the game-winning goal to give Evansville a thrilling 3-2 win over Monroe in a WIAA Division 2 regional championship game Thursday night. Both teams played each other earlier this season and tied.
"It was just a foot race to see who could get there faster," Monroe coach Tony Vasquez said. "(Pinnow) barely got his toe on it. They were both battling for the ball. There is nothing more Nick could do."
Vasquez was proud of his team for being on the brink of advancing to the sectional. With the loss, Monroe finished the season 10-8-3.
"It was obvious they left everything out on the field," Vasquez said. "Evansville has been ranked in the top five of Division 2 most of the season. They proved they could play with one of the top teams."
Monroe junior Taylor Teasdale had one goal and one assist to lead the Cheesemakers. He scored at 12:43 on an assist from senior Jesse Keizer to take a 1-0 lead. Evansville's Andrew Cressnell tied the game up on a penalty kick at 35:59. Monroe senior Corey Flannery then scored the go-ahead goal on an assist from Teasdale at 41:05 to give the Cheesemakers a 2-1 lead.
Evansville's Will Elain answered back with a goal with about 4:30 to go, sending the game into overtime.
"It was a very tough game," Vasquez said. "I knew the kids had expended a lot of energy. I was hoping the game wouldn't go to overtime. I didn't say much after the game. They left it all out on the field."
