Unlike the previous two, this one went Leesville’s way.

Apex overcame a 2-0 lead before the Pride’s Allison Shiveler scored on a penalty kick midway through the second overtime, a goal that gave Leesville a 3-2 win on Saturday in the tournament’s fourth round.

“Apex made a tremendous comeback,” Pride coach Paul Dinkenor told The News & Observer. “You can’t say too much about how hard and how well their girls played.”

The Pride took a 2-0 lead and scored a goal in each of the first 10 minutes of the first and second halves. Within five minutes of allowing the second goal, Apex’s Kelly Dodd cut the lead in half with an unassisted goal.

Apex coach Kevin Todd said that goal was vital to his team’s chances for a comeback because Leesville Road plays such good defense. Entering Saturday’s game, the Pride had surrendered just three goals all season.

“That just gave us what we would have needed,” Todd said of Dodd’s goal. “Down two goals to a team that’s given up three all season is a daunting task.”

Apex’s Christi Kasnowski evened the game 2-2 when she scored with six minutes left in regulation. Dodd assisted.

“From that point, the momentum completely swung our way,” Todd said.

But the momentum didn’t translate into another goal. Instead the 2007 4-A state champion fell short of returning to the championship game this season. Not that diminishes the year.

“You would hope the seniors will look back with a great deal of satisfaction even though they experienced as a junior the ultimate success,” said Todd, whose team finished the season 19-3-3. “You have to appreciate the goals along the way, so if you don’t meet the final goal, those others are going to be something you savor and cherish. Increment by increment, we can achieve a goal. Just because we didn’t reach the last one doesn’t mean we’re less of a team.”