Gabby Chapman’s overtime goal gave the Wolverines a 2-1 win over visiting Hall-Dale in the opening round of the Class C South soccer tournament Saturday night.

The win advances the Wolverines to the second round. The game is Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 at Monmouth Academy. Monmouth is the top-ranked high school in the Class C South.

WMHS finished the regular season at 6-6-2 ranked number 8 in the Class C South. Hall-Dale was ranked ninth in the Heal Point standings with a record of 6-7-1. In the only time they faced each other this season on Sept. 10, the Wolverines defeated the Bulldogs 3-2 in Farmingdale.

The weather definitely impacted play of Saturday night’s contest. It rained on and off throughout the game. Fortunately the temperature was in the low 60s with just a light breeze blowing. Both teams struggled passing the ball on the wet field and conditions deteriorated as the game progressed.

The Wolverines dominated possession of the ball for the first 20 minutes of play but the Bulldogs netted the first goal. It came with 15:38 left until halftime on a cross pass from Madison Smith to Isabella Merino. Merino’s shot careened off the far post and into the net. It was the visitors’ first shot of the game.

With the clock winding down to 8:50 the Wolverines had four corner kicks in a row but the Bulldog defense held firm. Hall-Dale’s second shot of the half came with 5:45 left. Addie Davis fired but Wolverine goalie Lindsey Gordon was there for the stop. Gordon made another save at 3:50 leaping and catching Merino’s chip shot from 20 yards away.

The Bulldogs held on until 30:08 of the second half when Brooke Carleton tied the game. Carleton launched a high floater in front of the Bulldog bench. Goalie Maggie Gross leaped but the ball carried over her head into the far corner of the net. Smith broke free with the ball with 13:43 left but halfback Arie Mills tracked her down making a fine defensive play. Hall-Dale got off the final shot in regulation with 30 ticks left on the clock but Gordon caught the ball and booted it down field.

After a short intermission play resumed for a 15-minute overtime. Hall-Dale won the toss and chose to defend the east end of the field. Six minutes into OT, the Bulldogs turned the ball over deep in their own end. Carleton’s throw-in went to Chapman who sent the ball across the field to Grace Webber. Webber got off a hard shot but Gross was there for the save.

Two minutes later Chapman’s shot from the left side deflected off a Bulldog defender and rolled into the net ending the game. Both teams received a well deserved round of applause at the game’s conclusion. Gordon and Gross each recorded eight saves. The shot count was about even at a dozen a piece.