Tigers nip Warriors in OT (photo gallery)

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Falls beat Cedar Rapids Washington, 2-1, last night in a girls' Class 3A soccer semifinal regional at Kingston Stadium.

Cedar Rapids Washingon's Sarah Keppler and Alexa Rabune of Cedar Falls both go for the ball during a Class 3A first round regional game at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG)

The tough teams, unfortunate to be paired this early in the postseason, battled in an overtime thriller.

“I'm really proud of the whole team,” Cedar Falls Coach Beth Huber said. “They're an excellent team also. We've been working really hard to keep our attitudes up and controlling what we thought we could control.”

The Warriors started slowly and with 10 minutes remaining in the half conceded a goal to Cedar Falls after a nice give-and-go in the midfield led to a through ball and a one-touch finish past goalkeeper Sophia Malcolm.

But they fired back midway through the second half when a long, early cross left midfielder Lauren Goodlove open for the breakaway. She slotted the ball far post. Cedar Falls goalkeeper Sophie Perez was phenomenal all game but was caught hugging her near post on Goodlove's goal.

“I know I personally hesitated,” Perez said. “I couldn't decide whether to come out or stay back, and once I did stay back I didn't take a step far enough to make the save.”

Minus that mental error, Perez was crucial for the Tigers. She was constantly outside the box, clearing the Warriors' through balls that would have led to breakaways.

Tigers forward Allie Wirth netted the golden goal when she flicked the ball off a corner kick with her head to end the game in the first overtime.