This time Centennial was ready.

After losing to River Hill, 4-3, in overtime, the Eagles quickly capitalized on their next overtime experience.

"One of our goals was no overtimes, but we made the most of this one," said Centennial senior Katie Teleky, who had the game-winner as the Eagles beat Long Reach, 1-0, Sept. 19.

"Kate Heineman hit it (toward the circle) and I ended up dodging their defense, getting their goalie off balance and knocking it in," Teleky said. "We weren't talking as much as we should have in some aspects (during the game), but we ended up finding a way to get it done in overtime."

In the 10-minute sudden victory, 7v7 play opens up and things get exciting. Teleky scored at the 8:10 mark.

"Katie didn't lose the ball, she didn't try to just hit the ball and she didn't try to dish it off. She dodged three people, including the goalie, and scored and finished," Centennial coach Tara Fadrowski said.

Teleky didn't play last fall because she was recovering from surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Fadrowski said she's to blame for her team being underprepared to play overtime against River Hill.

"That was my fault as a rookie coach. I hadn't taken the opportunity to really focus on (overtime). Maybe I was overly optimistic about not even getting to overtime. Now we've practiced it and worked on it and talked about what we were going to do."

Both Centennial and Long Reach had opportunities to score in regulation.

"We had a lot of opportunities, but we couldn't connect," Long Reach coach Melissa McCarthy said. Becky Randel, Marcia Patterson, Jess Franklin and Sam Earle put pressure on Centennial's defense, but the Eagles would not give in.

Centennial keeper Liz Snyder sprawled on the ground several times to prevent Long Reach from scoring. She was credited with six saves. Whitney Pryor, her Long Reach counterpart, had nine.

The victory was Centennial's first county win of the season.

"Circle to circle, we look great in the middle, but offensively we have been breaking down," Fadrowski said.

She added that she was impressed with how her team switched fields and supported each other. Heineman, who is playing center mid this year, was complemented by Caroline Thoreson and Kelsey Norris in the midfield. The trio make the Centennial transition successful.

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