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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Dillon Dougherty’s listed at 5’10” and thankfully he has good eyesight and jumping ability, too.
With New Covenant Academy clinging to a 1-0 lead late in Tuesday night’s Class 1 sectional against Fatima, Dougherty showed off his awareness and hops.
The senior goalkeeper stopped Fatima’s potential equalizer as he leapt to knock away a 28-yard free kick that would’ve gone in.
“I was kind of watching the ball between the feet and saw it go over (the wall), so I just watched it come and tipped it over,” said Dougherty, who also plays catcher for NCA’s baseball team. “I was watching it the whole way. I felt (confident) that I could stop it.”
NCA (16-4 overall) would give Fatima no second chances.
Senior forward Dake Winslow, battling through a thigh injury, got loose for a breakaway goal minutes later that sealed the Warriors’ victory.
With the 2-0 win, NCA advances to the final four for the first time in program history.
“It’s awesome,” Dougherty said. “Once we got that extra goal (at the end) to solidify it, I was like, ‘Dang, bro.’”
Winslow suffered an injury to his thigh and left the match in the 27th minute. He initially thought it was a charley horse-type injury, although the trainer told him it was a deep thigh bruise.
“I don’t really know the difference,” Winslow said. “It hurts, a lot, that’s all I know.”
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After icing his thigh and putting on extra layers, Winslow stayed loose by jogging up and down the sidelines.
He returned midway through the second half and delivered the game-clinching goal in the 78th minute.
A fired up Winslow pumped his fists in the air and roared afterwards.
“I was so happy,” he said. “I was more happy for the team and for the fans. They got to experience a good game and now we get to go play another game on Saturday.”
The Warriors play at top-ranked Southern Boone (18-0 overall) on Saturday in Ashland. Southern Boone won 5-0 at Smithton on Tuesday night.
“Another opportunity to keep playing,” said Warriors coach Eric Crain. “It’s just icing on the cake as we keep going. I really enjoy playing with this group.”
Fatima was hit with a red card in the 73rd minute, forcing the Comets to get the equalizer down a man.
But the Comets (5-14 overall) nearly did just that, drawing a foul moments later just outside the box in the middle-left of the field.
Fatima sophomore Ryan Kesel aimed his free kick for the upper right corner. Dougherty got a hand up in time to knock it out.
Like it did in the district finals against Fair Grove, NCA struck early on Tuesday night.
In the 11th minute, NCA junior Spencer Chevalier slipped a ball through to Winslow, who drew a foul in the box.
Winslow’s ensuing PK was stopped, but he jumped right on the rebound and scored on his second try.
“I was a little freaked out when he stopped (the PK). I was like, ‘Oh, shoot,’” Winslow said. “I just ran up to it as fast as I could and did everything I could to put it in. Low and behold, it went in.”
The early lead allowed the Warriors to play their typical possession-heavy scheme and ultimately advance to the final four.
“We talked at the beginning of the season how we have to keep possession (because) possession leads to goals, goals lead to wins, wins lead to state,” Dougherty said. “It’s been our goal the whole time.”
