With just over five minutes remaining in its season, Mountain View turned to the one player who has proven more than capable of finding the goal.
Only this time, Justene Kesterson used her head to score the tying goal in regulation.
The freshman added another score in overtime as the No. 5-seeded Mountain Lions rallied to advance to the Class 5A-II semifinals with a 3-2 win over No. 13 Scottsdale Chaparral.
"We've been asking Justene to put her head on the ball all year," said Mountain View coach Rick Ellis.
After the teams traded first-half goals, the Mountain Lions controlled possession for most of the second half.
However, they could not turn numerous scoring opportunities into points, and watched Chaparral pull ahead.
Just under 17 minutes remained in the contest, but Kesterson said Mountain View was nervous.
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"When they scored on us we started to panic," she said. "The time was going down faster and faster."
It wasn't until the 75th minute that Kesterson calmed the fears of those pulling for a Mountain View victory, when her header tied the game 2-2. It was the freshman's 20th goal of the season and came on a well-placed free kick by Elena Whitton.
"My head was the only part of me that could reach the ball," Kesterson said.
Following a scoreless first half in overtime, Whitton found Kesterson again, and she promptly gave the Mountain Lions a 3-2 advantage in what turned out to be the winning goal in the 92nd minute.
Mountain View last reached the state semifinals two years ago and it's something current players who were part of that team still talk about it.
"This was a hard-fought win and it's great to make it back to the semifinals," he said. "They were there two years ago and lost 1-0.
"The girls haven't forgotten about it."
• Scottsdale Horizon 2, Rincon/University 1: At Phoenix, Rincon/University couldn't recover after giving up two early goals to the Huskies.
The No. 10-seeded Rangers fell to Scottsdale Horizon in the 5A-II quarterfinals after cutting the lead to one in the 78th minute when Rachel Dunn scored on an assist from Layla Martin.
"We had no luck today," Rincon coach Dave Lemon said.
"The ball didn't bounce our way but that's the game of soccer," he added. "We had a great season."
Rincon finished the season 11-9 overall after placing third in the 5A Southern region at 4-2.
Boys
• Phoenix Carl Hayden 3, Rincon/University 0: At Phoenix, Rincon/University's quest to get to a third straight state 5A-II title game was ended by Phoenix Carl Hayden in the quarterfinals.
The No. 4-seeded Falcons snapped a scoreless tie when Jorge Sanchez scored with 4:20 left in the first half.
Carl Hayden added two second-half goals.
Rincon lost in the 2008 title game to Phoenix Pinnacle, and fell to Tolleson in the championship game last season.
