I-A GIRLS SOCCER: Sladek’s overtime goal gives Trojans title

Nevada’s all-time career goals leader, Sydney Sladek, came up big again for Pahrump Valley in Saturday’s regional final at Heritage Park.

The senior netted the winning goal in overtime to give the Trojans a 3-2 victory over Faith Lutheran for the Division I-A Southern Region chamiponship.

Sladek sprinted up the left side of the field, received a pass from Kristen Young in the middle, and finally put it in the net just minutes into overtime.

“(Young) placed it perfectly,” said Sladek, who jumped into Young’s arms in celebration afterwards. “I’m ecstatic.”

Everyone in attendance, including Pahrump coach Pamela Larmouth, had a feeling who would net the game-winner.

“That’s what we were waiting for,” Larmouth said. “All we wanted to do was give her an opening. All she needs is a little crack. Sometimes she makes her own, but that’s all we were needing.”

The Trojans (17-0-2) came back twice against the Crusaders (16-5-1), who built leads of 1-0 and 2-1.

In the 21st minute, Dani Tharaladson took a pass from Kristi Chinn and kicked it to the right post giving the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.

Sladek responded in the 36th minute, scoring off a pass from Ashlyn DiBlasi to tie it.

Chinn got another assist on a corner kick that set up Kendall Pori’s goal with 14 minutes left in regulation that put Faith Lutheran up 2-1.

With three minutes left in regulation, Courtney Lindsey lobbed pass to Sladek, who was taken down by Crusaders goalkeeper Beka Lescenski in the penalty box, earning the Trojans a penalty kick.

Lindsey took the try, and fired the ball inside the right post to tie the game.

“Of course it hurt right away, but you got to shake it off and keep going like nothing happened,” Sladek said of falling behind twice. “I feel like I’m one of the main people that help lift our spirits up. I look them all in the eye and say, ‘We got this. We’ve been working all year for this.’ It just gets everyone so fired up.”

Defending state champion Pahrump will play Truckee in Dayton in Friday’s state semifinals. Faith Lutheran faces South Tahoe in the other semifinal.

Larmouth was happy for her players, and said the Trojans need to keep their momentum going into next week.

“I’m just really excited for the girls,” Larmouth said. “They played so hard, and they deserve the win. We want state, and we want it much more than we wanted regionals.”