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Nate Marshall scores the game-winner in overtime in the above video. Be sure to click the 'videos' link above to view all of the videos from the game.
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By Andy States
Content Manager, SMAC

As the whistle sounded ending regulation on a chilly Tuesday night, members of the Thomas Stone Cougars calmly made their way to the sideline. With the match against North Point knotted at one through 80 minutes, there was no reason for anyone to panic or be the least bit nervous. Having already encountered two overtime games this year, it's almost been a habit for the Cougars.

"At the end [of regulation], they were like, 'Oh, OK, it's overtime," Stone coach Tom Parker said. "It wasn't the great unknown. They've been there, unfortunately, and had a little bit of success."

"We just said that we need to step it up, quit messing around," Stone's Nate Marshall said of the team's talk between regulation and the extra frame.

Four minutes into overtime Marshall stepped it up, blasting the game-winning goal into the net's upper reaches to push the visiting Cougars past the Eagles 2-1. It was Stone's second overtime win in the three forays into extra time, and the seventh time in 10 games that the Cougars had been involved in a one-goal outcome. Stone (5-5, 4-4) has suffered four of its five losses by just one goal.

The experience playing in tight games all season has not been without its benefits, though. After falling in a quick hole when North Point's Robert Dimauro slammed in a rebound early in the first half, Stone simply shook it off and worked to get back in its game.

"Even though we were down 1-0 fairly quick," Parker said, "the boys had confidence they could come back."

That tying marker came close to seven minutes later, as Rob White took a pass from his own goalkeeper and streaked down the left side of the field and, nearing the corner, curled a left-footed shot towards the net. The ball floated in and brushed off the Eagles' keeper's hands and into the net to tie the score.

"It was a pass from the goalkeeper and I ran like there was no tomorrow," White said. "I was initially trying to cross the ball and just got very lucky."

"Rob, that's two games in a row he's played like that," Parker said of White, who has generally been a defensive player. "Saturday against McDonough he forced the goalie to make a fantastic save or else he would have scored on that one on the same type of play. That's what we've been working on with Rob, to utilize his unbelievable speed."

Throughout the second half, North Point (5-4-1, 3-4-1) controlled much of the action, but never found a way to slip another into the net.

"We played hard," North Point coach Gary Lesko said. "I thought we controlled most of the game, especially the second half.

"You let people hang around and then they jump on that one and put it away."

The Eagles were also coming off a long night in Lusby on Monday. North Point played through two scoreless overtime sessions in a 1-1 tie with Patuxent, which could have had an impact on the team's energy level as Tuesday night's action progressed.

"I think it probably did," Lesko said. "They're kids. They should be resilient, but yeah, I definitely think it did.

"All in all I'm pleased. We're doing good things. I wish we were on the other half of this one tonight, and if we could have put last night away it would have been a big difference. But we're doing some good things. We eliminate the bad things and keep doing the good things we'll be alright going into the playoffs."

North Point has four games left on its regular season schedule, the next at Chopticon on Friday. Stone, which in now riding a season-high three-game winning streak, is at Calvert on Friday. Parker hopes to see more of the same effort when his team takes the field in Prince Frederick.

"I'm mighty pleased with the boys today," he said.

Stone 2, North Point 1
TS    1    0    1
NP    1    0    0
Goals -- Stone: White, Marshall; North Point: Dimauro