Green Hope hosted Leesville on a cold Wednesday night for the 3rd round of the 4A State playoffs. Both teams have been playing well during the later part of the season and the game was hyped to be an epic battle.

As the game started, Green Hope had several chances down the right side of the field as Kyle Bandy found himself in some open positions. However, the Falcons were not able to convert. The Falcons had another golden opportunity on a corner when Zach Steele towered over the other players but he headed his chance wide to the left. Finally, the Falcons scored during a scrum in the box as Magnus Sorensen was determined to get the ball in the net. He plowed through and ran it over the line. 1-0 Green Hope.

Leesville was getting some good looks at goal as well as they played some quick one-twos around the box, but either their chances were saved by Alex Long or missed the target.

The half ended 1-0.

In the second half, Leesville had a lot of the play as they tried to equalize. Alex Long made a tremendous save at one point deflecting a close range shot over the bar. The Falcons got a few chances as well, but their attempts at free-kicks, corners and other chances were not that threatening.

Leesville capitalized in the second half with 10 minutes to go as they played a corner in to the near post. Somehow the ball found its way through the two Green Hope players on the near post, a mad scrum ensued and just as Green Hope did in the first half, the ball was willed over the line by Leesville for the 1-1 tie.

With 5 minutes to play, Green Hope was on the attack. Magnus Sorensen played a perfectly weighted ball over the Leesville center back and Kyle Bandy ran onto it. He was in one-on-one with the keeper with the chance to be the hero. As he ran to goal, the Leesville defender gave great chase and Kyle used his body to protect the ball and continue toward the charging keeper. At the last moment, Kyle shot low and hard. The ball went under the outstretched hands of the keeper and rested in the back of the net. 2-1 Green Hope and the place went crazy.

Green Hope went into a defensive shell and finished out the game. The Falcons won a hard fought battle against a very good team. Green Hope will host Sanderson on Saturday at 6:00 PM in the quarter finals of the 4A State Championship.