SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – South Effingham senior Abbey Jordan had never beaten Effingham County in four years of varsity lacrosse — until Tuesday.

It took a herculean effort, but Jordan delivered. She scored eight goals, including a walk-off winner at 1:15 of the second overtime, to lift the Mustangs to an 11-10 victory over ECHS at Rebel Field.

South Effingham’s win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Rebels dating to 2022.

“When I took that penalty shot and made the goal, I had a shiver in my body,” Jordan said. “I was so happy we beat Effingham.”

Her seventh goal tied the game at 10 with 27.1 seconds remaining in regulation.

Rivalry thriller

Effingham County had rallied late to win the first meeting 10-9 on March 19. The sequel — though a nonregion contest — proved even more dramatic.

There were four lead changes and seven ties. Neither team led by more than two goals.

Statistically, the teams were nearly even. South Effingham held a 29-23 edge in shots. ECHS goalie Carlee Fleming made 14 saves, while Mustangs goalie Vada-Lynne Frey stopped 12.

“I told them we have to be positive,” South Effingham first-year coach Analynn Bringer said. “In practice, we talked a lot about communication, and it showed up in the game. This time, the girls had the attitude, ‘We can get this done.’”

Momentum swings

Freshman Kennedy Conaway appeared to win it for the Rebels in the first overtime, but officials ruled her stick entered the crease on the follow-through, negating the goal.

Morgan Hetzel scored twice to give the Mustangs an early lead, but ECHS answered with three goals — one by Gracie LaFleur and two by Michaela Gordy — to take a 3-2 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Jacey Webb scored three times as the Rebels built an 8-6 halftime advantage.

South Effingham tied the game at 8 in the opening five minutes of the third quarter, but ECHS responded with goals from LaFleur and Gordy to reclaim a 10-8 lead.

“Even when we got down, we were still energized,” Jordan said. “We came in with energy, and we executed the game plan.”

Clutch finish

Jordan scored with 4:43 remaining to cut the deficit to one, then tied the game with a point-blank shot with 27.1 seconds left.

A foul set up her penalty shot in the second overtime, and she delivered the winner.

For South Effingham, Jordan finished with eight goals, Hetzel added two and Sydney Minshall had one.

For ECHS, Webb and Gordy each scored three goals. LaFleur added two, while Taylor Roulo and Ireland Floyd had one apiece.

“For the girls, it was a tough one to lose — not so much because it was South Effingham, but because they knew they didn’t play their best game,” Rebels coach Alison Lawson said. “Maybe this will put a fire under the girls to come out full blaze on Friday against Savannah Christian.”