How Roberson's Aria Giles delivered 4OT winner in 3rd round vs Reynolds
· Yahoo Sports
ASHEVILLE — Roberson junior Aria Giles’ 107th-minute corner in the fourth overtime of a third-round playoff matchup against rival Reynolds was supposed to just find the back post — and hopefully a teammate’s head.
Instead, it curved. Then found the netting on the right side of the goal.
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Olimpico. Golden goal. Rams, 3-2.
“Sometimes that happens, so I’m not going to complain,” Giles said.
No. 6 Roberson (17-4-1) advanced to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 6A playoffs with the win on May 18. The Rams will play No. 2 Mount Tabor on May 21.
Giles had a perfect chance to end the game in the third overtime when the Rams earned a penalty kick. Her initial try was saved by Reynolds goalkeeper Mary Green. Giles had the wherewithal to chase the rebound, but that, too, was blocked away by Green.
In the second overtime, Giles sent a shot toward the back left corner of the net. It looked perfect, and she started sprinting in celebration until it clanged off the crossbar.
Two chances for game winners, both foiled. Giles was undeterred, bringing her right to yet another opportunity to send the Rams on. This time, she capitalized.
“For that kid, that grit and resilience to go from missing a PK, locking it in and taking herself seriously, not letting the moment get away from her,” Roberson coach Leslie Sloan said. “That’s professional.”
In the regular season, the Rams had two chances to take down No. 3 Reynolds (15-4-2), but lost 2-1 and 1-0, and dropped to third in the conference.
Before the May 18 game, Sloan reminded her players that they don’t learn as much when they win games. The hard lessons come with losses.
Roberson learned how to grind it out on defense, which paid off. Only one of the Rockets’ two goals came in open play, and the Rams held them scoreless for the last 68 minutes of the game.
“Reynolds is super different. They are a great team,” Giles said. “Just coming into it with our heads in, as this is a totally different game, really helped us.”
As the clock kept ticking up after 80 minutes of regulation, it fueled both belief and hope within the team — belief they could win, and hope they’d practice another day.
“I have tears in my eyes,” Sloan said. “I really love this team. I didn’t want tonight to be our last night. I’m so excited we get tomorrow.”
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Roberson girls soccer beats Reynolds on 4OT golden goal in playoffs