ND AVOIDS BIG UPSET, WINS IN OT SHOOTOUT

It's the equivalent of nailing a game-tying, full-court shot at the buzzer or completing a Hail Mary pass as time expires.

But in soccer, it's a little different; nobody but the officials knows exactly how much time is left.

A stunning goal with two seconds left in regulation saved Notre Dame's season as the top-seeded Bulldogs sent the game into overtime and eventually beat No. 4 Sikeston in a shootout to advance to the finals of the Class 1A-3A District 1 Tournament.

The Bulldogs beat Sikeston 5-3 in the shootout after the two teams couldn't unlock a 1-1 tie through four, 10-minute overtime periods.

Just getting to the first overtime, though, Notre Dame needed a miracle. With time winding down and some Notre Dame fans heading to their cars, Scott Wittenborn dribbled near midfield and fired a ball about 40 yards toward the net. Shane Kistner then headed the pass into the goal to send the game into overtime.

"The linesman showed me his watch after regulation and it had two seconds on it," said Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn. "To get a goal with two seconds left from where the ball was at was just unbelievable."

Notre Dame goalkeeper Paul Unterreiner scored the first penalty kick in the shootout and Nick Kapfer, Wittenborn, Tyler Cuba and Travis Siebert all followed suit. Sikeston's fourth attempt missed, so once Siebert made his shot, the game was over.

"Everybody's heart was just in their stomach," Wittenborn said. "We had very high hopes going into districts and it looked very bleak. You lose and you're out. It was one of those games where you just had to be there and it'll be something I can tell kids forever; you've got to play hard until the whistle. You just don't know what could happen."

During the four overtime periods, Notre Dame outshot Sikeston 17-1.

The Bulldogs will play Windsor at 7:15 Monday for the district championship. Windsor also won on penalty kicks, 4-3.