Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Kelsey Kaylor helped the Woodmore girls soccer team persevere through a wild finish and ultimately capture a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Archbold in a Division V regional semifinal on Tuesday at Contractor’s Stadium in Norwalk.
With the victory, Woodmore (19-1-1) advances to the regional final against Mansfield Christian at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Frost Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin. A win there would give the Wildcats the program’s first-ever state tournament appearance.
Woodmore head coach Jeff Helmke was proud of the fight out of his team.
“They worked,” he said. “We had a lot of games that were very winnable, and we didn't get tested a whole lot during the season, but the way they handled the adversity (against Archbold) was very impressive.”
It was Kaylor’s 15th multi-goal performance of the season, giving her 48 total on the campaign. She also eclipsed the 90-goal plateau for her career, entering the regional final with 91.
Archbold’s Delilah Chapa found the net on a free kick just less than three minutes into the game, and her team took that lead into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
With 8:20 left, Woodmore’s Rylie Hesselbart scored the equalizer, and the two teams remained tied with one minute left in regulation, setting up a wild finish.
Kaylor delivered a go-ahead goal with 30 seconds left, converting in front on a pass from Taylor Hill for a goal that appeared would be the game-winner. However, Archbold answered back with one second left to send the game to overtime.
“(The team’s) resiliency was outstanding,” Helmke said. “They spent 30 seconds and once they got to the sideline, they were just right back onto what we got to do. For such a big heartbreak moment, they moved on very quickly to what was next. I was really impressed.”
After a scoreless first overtime, Kaylor found herself in front of the net once again early in the second overtime, delivering the walk-off goal at the 10:21 mark on a pass from Izzy Helmke.
“That’s probably the most excited I've seen a team, especially of my own,” Helmke said. “Archbold was a very, very good team, and to come back from one down, then to give up that goal with zero seconds on the clock, it was up there. I just don't have a word for it.”
Abbie Schmeltz made three saves in goal for Woodmore.
The Wildcats only other previous appearance in the regional final came in 2022, and the 2016 team also made a regional semifinal appearance, as well.
