FAYETTEVILLE -- A full 80 minutes and two 10-minute extra time periods weren't enough to settle the Class 6A girls soccer state championship.

After 100 minute of soccer, Siloam Springs outscored Mountain Home 3-0 in penalty kicks and the Lady Panthers earned their first state title with a 3-2 victory at Razorback Field.

Most Valuable Player Bailei Brown made three saves in the penalty kicks period, and Grace Simpson's goal on the Lady Panthers' fourth try sealed the victory.

Brown made the first two saves going to her right and caught the third in the middle.

"Penalty kicks, I was ready," said Brown, who will play volleyball next fall at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. "Honestly, we had worked on them and after the first stop I was really confident, because normally the first shooter is the best shooter."

Annika Bos and Ingrid Gibson also converted on their penalty kicks for Siloam Springs.

Siloam Springs led 1-0 at halftime on a ninth-minute goal by Khenli Harp, who headed a pass from Kaylie Lane by Mountain Home Kiara Bailey.

The Lady Panthers (14-10) added an insurance goal in the 63rd minute when Ana Linch dribbled inside the box and fired with her left foot to make it 2-0.

The Lady Bombers answered quickly with two goals to tie it up.

Jessica Swonger's free kick from 40 yards out went over Brown's head to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute.

In the 70th minute, Ana Helmert scored to tie the score 2-2.

Even with the game tied, Siloam Springs Coach Jason Bowen remained confident.

"I felt real confident throughout the whole game, even when they came back and tied it up," said Bowen, who has now won three state titles in four years in boys and girls soccer at Siloam Springs. "I thought we could get a goal."

Both teams had opportunities to score at the end of regulation and in both extra time periods.

Bowen said he felt good when the game moved into penalty kicks because the Lady Panthers had spent a large portion of their practices working on those situations.

"We saw them on film and knew how they took their penalty kicks, and that's how we prepared for it," Bowen said. "Bailei came through with three saves there."

Mountain Home Coach Debbie Atkinson said her girls left everything on the field.

"They fought with everything they had," Atkinson said. "They were exhausted, but they didn't quit."

Sports on 05/24/2014