Kimble Rose sometimes gets nervous on breakaways. But on Tuesday night, in the waning moments of overtime, with a chance to send Bishop Brady to the Division III championship game for the fourth straight year, she found the back of the net.
The No. 7 Giants (11-6) defeated No. 3 Newport (13-3), 2-1. Rose scored both goals. It was pure jubilation.
“I’m so happy for Kimble,” head coach Kelly Owen said. “She’s a hard worker. She’s a sophomore. She gives it her all. She delivered today.”
The path to victory certainly wasn’t easy. Rose scored her first goal with 5:24 left in the first quarter, and the Giants sustained pressure on the Tigers through most of the first half.
But Newport didn’t go quietly. With 12:28 to play in the fourth quarter, Katie Sharron converted for the Tigers to even the score. Bishop Brady was on its heels.
“We hardly had any possession in that last quarter,” Owen said. “That was a little hairy.”
At the end of regulation, both teams retreated to their benches. The Giants formed a circle in front of Owen, but it was the players who did most of the talking. She didn’t have to say much.
“I’ve done my job if they can take on that responsibility,” Owen said of her players’ leadership. “That makes me very proud.”
In the seven-on-seven sudden death period, both teams traded chances. Then with 1:17 remaining, Rose had her moment, and she seized it.
The win marked Bishop Brady’s second straight upset after taking down No. 2 Newfound on Friday, also by a 2-1 score, thanks to two goals from junior Laura Yap. Now, the Giants are one win away from the D-III title.
“It’s been pretty cool,” Rose said of the recent upset wins. “But Coach always says, ‘Why not us?’ So, why not us?”
Bishop Brady will face top-seeded Gilford who hung on for a 3-2 win over Mascenic in its semifinal game on Tuesday night. The championship game will be played on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Bedford High School.
For the Giants, their magical ride will continue for one more game. They’ve reached the point in the season where confidence and belief matter more than X’s and O’s. And they’re certainly not lacking in confidence or belief.
“I’m so excited,” Rose said. “I’m ready to win this thing.”