The game's only goal is scored when Kristl Kamm redirects Carey Hummel's corner kick in overtime, sending Gaither to the region final.
By STEVE LEE
Published February 11, 2004
TRINITY - Gaither's second region final appearance, or Mitchell's first, could not be decided in regulation.
Ultimately, the outcome hinged on anatomy.
Kristl Kamm's injured right quadriceps, to be specific.
Gaither's senior forward intended to trap a corner kick from teammate Carey Hummel 42 seconds into the first of two five-minute overtimes.
But Kamm redirected Hummel's pass past goalkeeper Lauren Hudson, giving the Cowboys a 1-0 win and their first region final berth since 1999.
Kamm has played sporadically the past two weeks while nursing her injury. She said her heavily bandaged thigh "was so padded up I didn't feel" the deflection for her 12th goal.
"It was decided on a set play; on a corner kick," Mitchell coach Karl Kukec said. "I think otherwise it was a pretty evenly matched game. They got the break."
Gaither (14-2-3) hosts Land O'Lakes, a winner over Hillsborough, in Friday's region final at 7 p.m.
Gaither lost to Lake Howell in a 1999 region final.
The Cowboys also won a district title that season, coach Dianne Sumner's first at Gaither.
"Our motto," Sumner said, "is, "Why not?' Everyone else has a chance to go through, so why not us?"
For the second straight season, Mitchell (22-3-1) bowed out of the playoffs in a region semifinal after winning a district championship.
Each team had chances to score in regulation with Gaither's best shot coming in the ninth minute on a Shanna Pace breakaway.
But Hudson, who made several slide-blocks far beyond the penalty box, came out to challenge Pace and smother a point-blank shot.
Mitchell missed its best opportunity when Lauren Schenk's rising shot from 25-feet out on the right side banked off the crossbar.
A strong run by Pace, who has 24 goals, down the left side led to Gaither's corner kick in the first overtime.
"She ultimately set up the goal," Sumner said. "If she can't get the goal, set it up."
Sumner lauded her defense for holding Schenk and Kate Slaughter, who combined for 72 goals, scoreless.
"Our game plan was to make sure there was no service to the front," Sumner said.
