Down two goals. Twenty-three minutes left. On the road against Kenston.
The Nordonia Lady Knights had plenty of reasons to fold Wednesday night. Instead, they came roaring back.
Nordonia erased a 2-0 deficit with three unanswered goals — including the game-winner with just 58 seconds remaining — to stun the Kenston Bombers, 3-2, in a wild finish.
Kenston controlled the scoreboard early, finding the net once in the first half and again after the break to build a 2-0 advantage.
Then Kennedy Ninham changed the game.
With 23 minutes remaining, Ninham unleashed a spectacular shot that found the back of the net and suddenly brought the Lady Knights within one. More importantly, it gave Nordonia life.
The Knights kept coming.
With 10 minutes remaining, Lilly Garey delivered the equalizer, beating the Kenston defense to make it 2-2 and setting up a frantic final stretch.
Nordonia continued pressing for the winner, and in the closing minute, Lauren Cernanec sent a dangerous free kick into the attacking end.
The Lady Knights capitalized on that opportunity, crashed the box looking for the go-ahead goal, and in the chaos, Kenston was called for a handball inside the box.
There were just 58 seconds left.
Penalty kick. Clock stopped. Game on the line.
Maggie Hanson stepped to the spot.
And delivered.
Hanson buried the penalty kick to give Nordonia its first lead of the night, 3-2, completing a furious comeback from two goals down.
There was still business to finish. Kenston had 58 seconds for one final push, but the Lady Knights’ defense slammed the door and preserved the victory.
And this one meant more than another mark in the win column.
The victory is Nordonia’s third straight win, continuing a turnaround that is quickly gaining momentum. The Lady Knights have already surpassed their win total from all of last season — and they currently sit atop the conference standings.
From Ninham’s strike that sparked the rally, to Garey’s equalizer, to Cernanec’s late free kick that created the decisive opportunity, to Hanson’s pressure-packed PK, Nordonia refused to go away.
Three straight wins. More victories than all of last season. First place in the conference.
The Bombers built the lead.
The Lady Knights defused it.
Final: Nordonia 3, Kenston 2. ⚽️
Submitted by Crystal Cernanec
