Alcoa uses overtime to reach title game

By Pete Herbert
Daily Times Correspondent

It's like Alcoa's Derrick Brodus has an extra foot, maybe two -- everyone else with the normal two feet -- and it has been hard enough for him just to find one pair of those bright orange, radioactive shoes.

Brodus was good for two goals in the 3-2 overtime victory over Berean Christian at home Tuesday night in the second round of the District 3-AA soccer tournament. The win puts the Tornadoes in the championship game and guarantees a regional bid.

"Well that was a lot more exciting than it should have been," Tornado coach Tom Gorman said. "But I'm glad we won. They had that early PK (penality kick) and you can't really call a timeout in soccer, so we had to regroup. We played a lot better after that."

Alcoa threatened early and often but was unable to produce any goals. After a successful BC penalty kick at the feet of Rusty Baxter, Alcoa went into the half trailing 1-0.

Midway through the second half, however, Andrew Mitchell was able to punch one past Berean Christian goalkeeper Alexander Haun for the first Tornado goal.

The celebration would be short-lived.

Roughly a minute later, the Eagles would answer, taking back the lead when Jordan Grindel popped the ball over Alcoa keeper Adrian Womac for the goal.

Three and half minutes later, the Tornadoes would get another chance to celebrate. Brodus found the loose ball and politely put it into the net, tying the score.

A bunch of near-goals later and the teams headed into an overtime, tied at 2-2.

With 20 seconds left in the first 10-minute period of overtime, Mitchell's pass found Brodus's orange fancy feet and he punched it home. In the second 10-minute period of overtime, fatigue set in, but Alcoa held the Eagles at bay.

With 10 seconds left, Berean Christian had one chance left with a free kick. Womac came up huge with save -- one of many -- and the Tornadoes advanced to the championship.

"I felt good going into overtime," Gorman said. "The same thing happened last year, so we had the experience of playing one hundred minutes before. Just had to make sure we weren't over emotional, not too jacked up, and fitness is something we harp on.

"We just need to rest, get our legs back. Today we didn't match their (Berean Christian) level of focus. I hope the regular Alcoa shows up Thursday."

Alcoa will play for the district title at home Thursday at 7. The winner will host the first round of the regional, while the loser will travel.