“We had chance after chance after chance. That’s the game of soccer, you got to put the ball in the back of the net and we didn’t,” South Williamsport coach Marc Lovecchio said. “Give credit to Muncy, they play hard, they play tough, they play a nice style. But I thought we didn’t take advantage of our chances.”

Both teams hoped to put the game away in the two extra periods, but neither found the back of the net as South Williamsport and Muncy battled toa hard-fought 1-1 draw on Tuesday afternoon in a huge Mid-Penn matchup. Muncy (6-0-1) stayed at the top of the Mid-Penn while South (5-1-1) is right behind them.

“That’s this game. This game is not supposed to be that easy, right? This game is hard and if you’re scoring one of out every 10 chances, you’re doing something special,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “That’s just kind of the way it works. They’re just off here and there, or we just have a bad touch or whatever.

South Williamsport was able to strike first on Tuesday in the first half with 5:58 to play before halftime to take a 1-0 lead into the break. When Muncy keeper Eva Nagel came out to try and play a ball, it was able to get past her. South’s Ivy Minier took advantage and was able to get a shot on the ball and fired it into an open net to go ahead.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Mikaila Ganoe (2) charges after South's Ana Oeler (9) during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

“Eva was upset about it, but Eva also made some really good saves and some good opportunities. Althea (Street) made some really good saves. It’s like can we break through?” Gresh said. “That’s going to be the key. That’s the same question they’re asking. They broke through earlier but we responded. We just kept battling, which is great.”

South Williamsport played solid from a defensive perspective throughout the second half. But a penalty kick was awarded for the Indians with 16:47 to play and Muncy capitalized. Standout Ella Nagel lined up to take the shot and buried it to the right past a diving Street and tied the game at 1-1.

The Mounties kept pressing throughout the remainder of the game, hoping to go back ahead and seal the win, but that game-winning goal never came. The best chance for the Mounties was with 5:29 to play in regulation.

South Williamsport’s Kendall Smith got the ball and worked her way inside of the 18-yard box. Smith was able to cut inside of the box and, with a 1-v-1 look with Nagel, tried to fire a shot to the right, but her shot was just off the mark.

“I told the girls that happens in soccer,” Lovecchio said. “I can’t fault their effort; I can’t fault their tactics. They tried to do what we asked them to do and we created opportunities.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Mikaila Ganoe (2) attempts to steal the ball from South's Ana Oeler (9) during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

Both teams knew coming in it would be a battle. Muncy and South Williamsport have played some great games against one another the last two years, including last year’s District 4 Class A championship game, and Tuesday was another chapter in that rivalry.

“Oh yeah, we always know with them (it’s tough) because they’re our rival school technically and we’re always really competitive with them,” South senior Ella Moore said. “We have very similar skill like with all the girls, but we’re also friends with a lot of the girls, so it’s fun like that.”

In the first overtime period, South’s Kloey Persun chased down a ball and had a good look only to see Nagel slide and catch the ball before she was able to shoot. Three minutes later, Muncy’s Ella Nagel fired a direct kick 40 yards out and sent it into the 18.

Nagel’s direct kick was well placed and was just a hair off the mark of connecting with freshman Kiki Woodward near the goal line for what could have been a great shot attempt. Instead, Street was able to grab it and prevent any shot from being taken in that moment.

In the second overtime period, Persun’s shot from 12 yards out with 12:59 was the only shot on goal attempted, but it went just wide.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Emma McCormick (8) and South's Addisyn Morrison (5) chase the ball during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

Muncy had a near goal in the first half. With 7:15 to play, Muncy had a shot from outside of the 18 that was sent right to Street, who caught it, but bobbled it and dropped it for a moment. However she grabbed it just before it rolled back over the line and kept the game scoreless at that point.

Muncy held a narrow 8-7 shots on goal edge against the Mounties. Both teams played well from a defensive perspective though throughout all 100 minutes of competition.

Muncy had just one shot inside of the 18 outside of the penalty kick and South Williamsport fired five from inside of the 18, however not all were on target.

“Ella (Moore) does a great job. You figure their goal wasn’t in the run of play, it was a penalty kick. They did have some chances, but we have a very good goalie (in Street), Ella did a great job and we’re down to our third-string center back,” Lovecchio said.

That third-string center back is Bryar Praster, a sophomore who stepped up.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South's Kloey Persun (31) and Muncy's Ella Nagel (17) jump for a header during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

“I thought she did a great job back there,” Lovecchio said of Praster’s efforts.

“It’s one of our better games through the season, honestly. We battled for what, 100 minutes. Like we battled, we were more physical than we’ve been, that’s been a point of emphasis for us is I think we were just trying to play a little too cutesy sometimes,” Gresh said. “We kind of got after it a little more, we tried to win balls, run through balls, do some things. Against this team, if you don’t do that you’re not going to win, it’s that simple. I was thrilled with our effort. It was as good of an effort as we’ve had all season.”

While both defenses stepped up and made it tough for the opposing forwards and midfielders, both goalies were key for the game being tied. Street and Nagel both ended with six saves and both had key stops to keep the game close.

“Althea is good, Eva’s good. It’s a battle of two really good keepers,” Gresh said. “They’re the two best keepers in the league by far and they’re two of the better keepers in the area for sure.”

Muncy 1, South Williamsport 1 (2 OT)

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Ella Nagel (17) and South's Kendall Smith (6) struggle for possession of the ball during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

SW–Ivy Minier, 5:58. M–Ella Nagel (penalty kick), 16:47.

Shots: SW 7, M 8. Corners: SW 3, M 1. Saves: SW 6 (Althea Street), M 6 (Eva Nagel).

Records: South Williamsport (5-3-2, 5-1-1 Mid-Penn), Muncy 9-3-1 (6-0-1 Mid-Penn).

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy goal keeper Eva Nagel (88) blocks a shot during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Rachel Paulhamus (14) charges after South's Kendall Smith (6) during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Ella Nagel (17) moves in on South's Addisyn Morrison (5) during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy goal keeper Eva Nagel (88) kicks during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Zoe Kunkle (12) attempts to block South's Kendall Smith (6) during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South goal keeper Althea Street (1) sets up a goal kick during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Emma McCormick (8) tackles South's Addisyn Morrison (5) for possession of the ball during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy goal keeper Eva Nagel (88) deflects a shot during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Rachel Paulhamus (14) battles for possession of the ball around South's Coco Kline (10) during a high school girls soccer game between Muncy and South Williamsport at Muncy on Tuesday.