Churchill junior attacker Zoe Kabelac scored the game-tying goal with five seconds left in regulation. Kabelac led the Bulldogs with seven goals on the day.
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By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalspots.com

Down five goals in the second half and without any timeouts, Churchill’s undefeated season looked doomed against a strong Bethesda-Chevy Chase team.

But after making a couple substitutions and behind a goal by Zoe Kabelac with five seconds left in regulation, Churchill managed overtime and won, 22-19.

“I told them not to play like they’re losing and get all flustered and make stupid decisions and mistakes,” Coach Christen Pena-Ariet said via email. “Secretly I was having a heart attack.”

Kabelac finished with seven goals while Angela Biciocchi notched six goals. Sophia Ein recorded five goals and freshman Emily Heger scored four, including two in overtime.

Churchill (8-0) trailed the Barons (4-5) by two goals at halftime and by five goals midway through the second half. That’s when Pena-Ariet subbed in "hustlers" Christen Fagan and Meenu Singh.

The Bulldogs mounted a furious comeback to tie the game but then fell behind again by two goals with two minutes left. With about 12 seconds left, Nikki Frank drew a foul then passed the ball to Kabelac on the resulting possession. Kabelac sprinted the length of the field to tie the game at 18.

Sophomore goalie Nicole Andrews made eight saves stepping in for Bulldogs senior Lizzy Naegeli, who was sick before the game.

The Barons have dropped three straight but have some time off until a Friday game against Paint Branch.