Plattsburgh goalkeeper MacKenzie Lawfer dives to deny a close-range shot from Peru’s McKenzie Brown. In a tense girls’ soccer contest between Plattsburgh High School and Peru at the Apple Bowl, it all came down to one kick. Peru walked away with a 3-2 home victory, courtesy of McKenzie Brown’s successful penalty kick in the final minute of the game. A back-and-forth first half, which saw the team exchange lengthy periods of offensive pressure, ended with only one goal scored. Late in the half, Peru was awarded a free kick about 45 yards from goal. As the Hornets positioned their defense, Peru’s Isabella Sypek was quick to set the ball and launch a shot on net. Plattsburgh goalkeeper MacKenzie Lawfer tried to make the leaping save, but was unable to reach the ball. The tables turned early in the second half, though, as the Hornets scored two goals in quick succession to gain the lead. Defenseman Lexie Neale sent a long lob into the middle of the box from near midfield, and senior forward Madeleine Woodward met the ball at full speed before splitting the defenders. Woodward directed the ball into the bottom corner at the far post as she tumbled to the ground. About five minutes later, Woodward got the assist on the go-ahead goal, as her corner kick set up junior Ellie O’Neil for the tally. The home team knotted the score again less than 10 minutes later, though. As a free-kick came in from near the sideline, Peru’s Abigail Bruce flicked the ball up into the air to deny Lawfer, who had come off her goal line to gather it. Kayleigh Jackson directed the ball goalwards when it came back down, and none of the Plattsburgh defense could recover in time to stop it. With the game tied at 2 goals in the final minutes of regulation, it seemed overtime was in the cards, but that was not to be. A late attacking push by Peru saw Jackson dribbling into the box from the right-wing, where she was brought down by O’Neil for the penalty kick. Brown stepped up to the spot and showed no hesitation on the kick to beat Lawfer with just 50 seconds left in the game. Lawfer finished with 11 saves in the loss, while Peru’s Bri Brousseau stopped 6 in the winning effort. Gallery

Peru’s Abigail Bruce leaps to avoid going down after being beaten for possession by Plattsburgh defender Alyssa Hemingway near midfield. Gallery