The New Palestine Dragons girls soccer team trailed for more minutes this season than it had in the first 19 games combined.
Not that it mattered.
The Dragons scored three second-half goals to erase a second-half deficit and beat Center Grove 4-2 in the semifinals of the Shelbyville girls soccer regional. The Dragons will face Perry Meridian in Saturday's 7 p.m. championship match.
Junior Lauren Joray had two goals and an assist -- including scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals in the second half. She now has a team-high 18 goals on the year.
Joray's assist came just 37 seconds into the game, as she fed senior Lauren Kehrt for a quick goal that gave the Dragons a 1-0 lead.
It was Kehrt's 10th goal of the season.
With the way senior NPHS goalkeeper Holly Hilton has been playing -- posting a state-best 16 shutouts -- the Dragons appeared to be in good shape.
But the Trojans had other ideas. CG's Jenna Lixwiler scored with 6:37 left in the first half, and then Mackenzie Dean scored again for the Trojans 3:13 into the second to take a 2-1 lead.
The Dragons' deficit only lasted 10 minutes -- they had only trailed for seven during the season in two games. The Dragons won both games in which they were behind then, and won this one, too.
Joray buried a 25-yard shot with 26:51 left to tie it.
Then, the Dragons scored twice in 96 seconds to win it. Joray scored again on a shot from 20 yards on an assist from senior midfielder Lindsay Meyer 15:39 left. It was Meyer's team-best 21st assist, tying her with Columbus East's Sydney Newell for the state lead.
Senior Jordan Barton scored her third of the year unassisted from 25 yards out shortly thereafter to give the Dragons an insurance goal.
The Dragons outshot Center Grove 9-6.
The victory gave the Dragons a 17-0-3 record on the season, and for coach Dana Merrick, his 249th career coaching victory since 1985. He coached the boys from 1985-2001, and has coached the girls since 2003.
The victory was also the first-ever regional match victory for New Palestine in school history, and the first for a Hancock County school since Mt. Vernon in 1996.
The Dragons' regional title match against Perry Meridian will be a rematch of the Aug. 15 season opener. NP won that game 3-2.
The Dragons did see their 11-match unscored-upon streak end with Lixwiler's goal in the first half. In 20 games this season, the Dragons have allowed only six goals.
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