GREENWOOD -- Midway through the second half of Thursday's second-round playoff game against Fort Mill's boys soccer team, it appeared as though Greenwood was due for another early playoff exit following a successful regular season.
Through the end of the second half and overtime, the Eagles overcame their recent history and a two-goal deficit.
Jacove Anderson scored the game-tying goal in the 79th minute and Patrick Hobson scored the game-winning goal in the second minute of overtime as Greenwood, after its fifth straight Region 1-AAAA title, advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in 14 years with a 3-2 win.
Less than two minutes into overtime, Greenwood defender Matt Firmin lobbed a ball long to Hobson, who drilled a shot inside the nearside, left goalpost for the game-winner. The Eagles closed the game out by carrying the play for the next 18 minutes, not allowing a Fort Mill shot on goal.
On the game-tying goal, Hobson fed Anderson a ball at the farside, left goalpost, and Anderson buried the ball past Fort Mill goalkeeper Sean Van Etten. From that point through the rest of regulation and overtime, the Eagles dominated the ball and scoring chances.
"It was real, real obvious that we got mentally tired," Yellow Jackets coach Lloyd Chalker said. "That's when you make mistakes, and that's when the other team makes you pay for it. That's what happened tonight."
Meanwhile for Greenwood, Kinard and Firmin both credited the team's nine-senior roster with helping to keep the Eagles in the game down two goals.
"I think it's just all leadership," Firmin said. "We just pulled together as a team. I think we just wanted it more than them. I'm just so happy right now."
Greenwood 3, Fort Mill 2 (OT)
Fort Mill 0 2 0 -- 2
Greenwood 0 2 1 -- 3
Goals -- Fort Mill: Ryan Fielden 1, Matthew Knowe 1. Greenwood: Gray Johnson 1, Jacove Anderson 1, Patrick Hobson 1.
Assists -- Fort Mill: Chris Landvik-Larsen 1. Greenwood: Josh Smith 1, Hobson 1, Matt Firmin 1.
Saves -- Fort Mill: Sean Van Etten 6. Greenwood: Matt Adams 4.
Records: Fort Mill 14-6; Greenwood 16-2.
