Sophomore Lauren Kocer scored in overtime to lift the Rochester Mayo girls soccer team over Eastview 2-1 Thursday in the Spartans' opening game of the season.
Linnea Johnson, on an assist from Kristin Haraldsdottir, scored late in the first half of the game, the season-opener for Mayo.
Eastview tied the score with 10 minutes left in the game.
Kocer, normally a midfielder, scored while playing a forward position with four minutes left in overtime. Spartans coach Dave Bahr moved her there because the Eastview midfielders were bigger than Kocer and her teammates. As a result, Kocer, a key playmaker, wasn't getting the ball often enough.
Rhiana Wegner, a senior, made an assist on Kocer's goal.
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Century tops powerhouse
The Rochester Century girls soccer team started the season by knocking off non-conference foe Apple Valley, ranked No. 9 in the state in a preseason coaches' poll.
The Panthers won 2-1 in the game, played at Century. Lisa Tlougan of Century scored the opening goal at 4:01 on an assist from Maria Prendergast. Apple Valley came back to score with 18 seconds left in the first half on an unassisted play by Jennifer Dalhed.
Prendergast got the game-winning goal at 3:39 of the second half, unassisted.
"As a whole, the team really put things together in the first game (of the season)," said Panthers coach Karen LaDue. She noted the strong play of sweeper Kelly Sapan.
Century took 13 shots on goal while Apple Valley fired 10.
The Panthers play host to Lakeville at 1 p.m. Saturday.
