PHOTOS: Simley Girls Score Fourth Straight Soccer Win

Sophomore midfielder Samantha Tinucci scored the game-winning goal just 15 seconds into the first overtime to lift the Simley High Spartans to a 2-1 win over host North St. Paul in girls soccer Tuesday.

It was the fourth straight win for the Spartans (9-5-1), who are peaking for a playoff run which starts next week.

The Spartans didn’t panic when they trailed 1-0 in the second half to the underdog Polars.

“I think we just got frustrated but I think that makes us work for it more,” said Tinucci. “It makes us play better.”

Simley ends the league season with a record of 6-3-1, finishing third in the Classic Suburban Conference.

“It was a good team win,” said Simley coach Cassie Husemann. “It was nice to finish the game, or at least get ahead in the first 15 seconds of overtime. We played a different formation in the second half to get that one quick goal.”

Trailing 1-0 five minutes into the second half, Simley senior Jill Richgels scored to tie the game at one goal apiece. It was her 19th goal of the season.

“We’re looking to go to state and right now is when we need to start playing our best and winning, and we are,” said Richgels.

North St. Paul finished the regular season at 2-6-1 in the conference and 3-11-2 overall.

The Spartans have beaten Henry Sibley, Richfield, Visitation and North St. Paul in their streak. Simley wraps up the regular season with a non-conference home game against St. Croix Lutheran at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The section seeding meeting will be held Sunday. Simley is likely to draw a home game Wednesday to open the playoffs.