By Dale Miller
dale.miller@theindependent.com

The Gators entered the game at Fonner Park with a 6-3 record. The Islanders have struggled while going 1-7.

North Star did win, but it wasn't in the fashion that might have been expected.

The Gators outscored G.I. 3-1 in a shootout to escape with a 2-1 victory.

"It was another close one," said Islander coach Chuck DeWitt, whose team has five losses by one or two goals. "You go 1-8 and play a 7-3 team to a shootout. Right at the end we almost won it."

Each team survived a close call in the final minute of overtime. First the Gators had a goal by Morgan Ihde nullified by an offsides call.

Then 30 seconds later the Gators survived a 1-on-1 breakaway chance by the Islanders' Audie Aguilar, who had tied the game in the 69th minute.

Aguilar scored for GISH in the first round of the shootout, and Zaina Mayer answered for the Gators.

The Islanders wouldn't score again in the shootout, as North Star goalkeeper Kallee Chrisp stopped a pair of shots.

Jennica Rice and Ashley Grunder scored for the Gators to end it in the fourth round.

DeWitt said some changes helped the Islanders stick with North Star.

"We changed some things up," he said. "The girls wanted to play a different formation, so we did what they wanted.

"Offensively it was nice to see the ball go towards the net. We had some nice chances. Hopefully this is a confidence builder. The girls need to know they played a great game."

DeWitt felt his team had one of its best team efforts of the season.

"Mikayla Walsh was injured and went out in the second half, then came back in and played an outstanding game," he said. "Brenna Rasmussen was solid at stopper like she has been all season. Gabby Ayala is having a solid year and played great. (Hannah) DeWitt and (Emalie) Clement all put a good effort in. I could talk about everyone."

* BOYS

Lincoln North Star 2, GISH 1

A tough second half cost Grand Island Senior High against Lincoln North Star on Monday.

Despite having the wind at their backs, the Islanders saw the Gators score the only goal after halftime to pick up a 2-1 victory.

"I don't have an explanation for it," Grand Island coach Jeremy Jensen said. "Our midfield disappeared in the second half.

"In the first half going into the wind we played well. In the second half going with the wind we were not here to play. It was like we just expected (to score) since we had the wind. There was not one forward or midfielder in the second half who played a good 40 minutes."

The Gators (5-5) scored the game-winner in the 66th minute after a call that the Islanders disagreed with. Goalkeeper Stephen Knudsen picked up the ball after an Islander defender was the last to touch it. But the referee ruled it wasn't "in the course of play" which gave North Star an indirect kick.

Waed Ali converted on the chance to put the Gators up 2-1 and the Islanders (3-6) couldn't find an answer.

"I was happy in the first half, and I expected the same in the second half," Jensen said. "We could have taken some opportunities against their goalkeeper. We had only two decent scoring opportunities in the second half."

Johnny Venegas put Grand Island up 1-0 in the 27th minute when he raced up the left side and got a shot off despite three defenders coming after him.

Adam Young kept Grand Island from taking the lead into the half. He ripped a long shot that was perfectly placed over Knudsen's hands and under the crossbar to tie it in the 37th minute.

"They got the goal to tie it three minutes before halftime after we had passed the ball well and dominated play," Jensen said.

The Islanders started two freshmen and a sophomore, but Jensen doesn't feel that is an excuse.

"Our young kids have to step up," he said. "It's time."