Golden goal lifts Lexington girls to Class 4A state soccer title
Megan Classer scored a controversial golden goal in the 105th minute to give Lexington its first state championship in girls soccer with a 2-1 sudden death overtime victory over J.L. Mann Saturday.
The controversy came with less than a minute remaining in the first sudden death overtime period at Irmo’s W.C. Hawkins Stadium. The shot hit the crossbar and ricocheted straight down before being cleared by the Patriots. After a brief discussion among the officials, it was ruled a goal.
Classer was certain it was good. She received a pass from Brooke Power and rifled the shot toward the goal that started a wild celebration that was briefly subdued while the officials discussed the shot.
“I knew the goal was good. As soon as they said it wasn’t good, I said, ‘that’s not right,’ ” the sophomore all-state midfielder said. “We just won. When I got the ball from Brooke, I knew it was a good goal. It’s an amazing feeling.”
J.L. Mann coach Steve Georgeopolous disagreed.
“The referee walked up to the linesman and asked if that was in and the linesman clearly – four of us heard it – said it hit the top post, hit the line and went out,” he said. “The referee walks off and we all think he’s going to call it off. He walks off and said it was a goal. I don’t understand why he walks off.”
A South Carolina High School League official spoke to the linesman afterward and was told he told the head referee that it was a good goal, that the ball landed past the black line and on the white paint inside the net.
Lexington coach Steve Fryland said he had a brief discussion with River Bluff boys coach Phil Savitz as the officials were discussing the goal and he got confirmation from the long-time soccer coach that it was good.
“The goal in overtime, coach Savitz was standing on the inline and I said Phil, and he said it was definitely in,” Fryland said. “What an awful way to lose, but I’ve been with this group 18 years, and I’ve lost some heartbreakers. Finally, the ball bounced our way. What an exciting way to end the year.”
The ending was very sweet for Fryland. He’s been with Lexington for 18 years and lost in the 2007 state finals.
“This is my 24th year coaching and never in my lifetime did I think I would win a state championship,” he said.
Lexington fell behind 1-0 in the 48th minute when Claudia Murphy scored for J.L. Mann (25-3). But the Wildcats battled back to tie it 14 minute later.
Classer had an assist on Mary Katherine Waters 20th goal of the season, making a swift pass to Waters just inside the box and she scored the equalizer.
“These girls proved once again what determination is,” Fryland said. “We looked dead in the water in the first half and then they got that goal, I thought it was going to end today. They kept going and got after it.”
The victory gives the No. 1 ranked team in the state and No. 18 by USA Today the state’s only unbeaten season with a 25-0-2 record. Fryland could care less that it came with a bit of controversy at the end.
“It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t pretty at all but boy were those girls working hard,” Fryland said. “They were cramping. It was a phenomenal effort.”
This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 7:18 PM with the headline "Golden goal lifts Lexington girls to Class 4A state soccer title."