Beecher Coach Dawn Compton gave the Bobcats a spirited half time talk, and Beecher was able to rally and overcome a two-goal deficit in the second half. The Bobcats were indeed very happy on April 5.

Beecher’s Morgan Magruder, Zamara Killis, and Charlotte Farrar each had one goal to help the Bobcats rally and beat Manteno, 3-2, in an exciting non-conference contest.

With 18 minutes to go the first half, the Panthers Kaylee Boudreau kicked the ball past Beecher keeper Taylor Killis for a 1-0 lead. Six minutes later, Manteno’s Julia Bona, on a breakaway, kicked the ball past Killlis for a 2-0 advantage.

But things were about to change for Beecher.

“It was a really fun second half,” said Compton. “Everyone was in on it.”

“We had to give more effort in the second half,” said senior captain Abi Fernandez. “It was an awesome comeback, and I’m so happy. I was so proud of Morgan. She just never gave up.”

To start the second half, Beecher’s Fabi Barraza’s hard shot was caught by Panther keeper Mia Robbins, who then also caught Killis’ consecutive shots. Following a Manteno foul, a Barraza kick sailed over the goal.

With 23 minutes to go in the game, Magruder, from the right side, kicked the ball past Robbins, which made the score 2-1. Brooklyn Burdick had the assist. Then with 16 minutes remaining and from 40-yards out, Killis booted the ball, which sailed over the head of Robbins and into the net, tying the score at 2-all.

“It felt amazing to score that goal,” said Killis. “I thought it was going to go over the goal, but it was a nice goal.”

“Zamara’s score was the best,” noted Fernandez. “She always manages to do that in practice.”

Then with 13 minutes to go in the game and from right in front of the goal, Farrar kicked the ball past Robbins, for the 3-2 hard fought victory.

“Kaylee was aggressive. She just was following the play,” said Manteno Coach Amanda Zea. “Julia was composed, and her shot had great placement.”

“We played well in the first half of the game,” she added. “They just wanted it more in the second half of the contest.”