Hiland head coach Matt Beechy captured the raw emotion of Tuesday’s Division V regional semifinal with a simple observation: “Honestly, sometimes I just hope athletes do athletic things.” That sentiment defined the match at Brideweser Stadium in Navarre, where sophomore forward Ally Mullet executed a decisive play to eliminate Norwayne for the second consecutive postseason. The 1-0 victory secures Hiland’s (12-6-3) spot in the regional final, capping a tense contest against a resilient Norwayne squad (13-5-3) that had previously drawn the regular-season meeting 2-2.
Sophomore forward delivers dramatic near-post finish to send Hiland to the final
The decisive moment arrived just three minutes into overtime, when Mullet isolated a defender on the right flank. Displaying exceptional composure, she dribbled forward, absorbed a challenge, and slid the ball to the near post, beating goalkeeper Morgan Hamby for the match winner. Beechy noted the difficulty of the angle, stating, “Ally broke down a defender and got it in. It was a tough angle it looked like.” Mullet, still processing the impact of her goal, described the moment as surreal, saying, “It was incredible. I wasn’t imagining that it went in but it did. It just doesn’t feel real.”
This result marks a significant milestone for Hiland, as they have now defeated Norwayne in the postseason for two straight years. The teams displayed a high level of parity throughout the 80 minutes of regulation, with neither side able to create sufficient separation to break the deadlock. With the win, Hiland advances to the Division V regional final, carrying the momentum of Mullet’s clutch performance and Beechy’s tactical discipline into the next round of the tournament.
Source: Yahoo Sports
