GOLDSBORO – The Community Christian School girls soccer team saved some flair for the dramatic for its final game of the 2023 season. Behind a goal and assist from Aspen Evans, including a penalty kick that won the game with under a minute left, CCS topped Jacksonville Christian 4-3 in the consolation game of the Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association tournament at Faith Christian on Saturday, capturing third place. 

The Cyclones of head coach Carl Bradshaw, who finished the season 14-3-2, trailed the Conquerors (5-6-1) 3-2 with seven minutes left in the game.

CCS had some late-game heroics in store, however, as a great shot from Tate Misback with about seven minutes left tied the game. With 42 seconds to play, Evans was hauled down in the box, and she buried a penalty kick to deliver the victory for her squad. 

The Conquerors jumped out in front just seven minutes into the game, but it didn’t take long for CCS to tie it up, as Autumn Bradshaw responded with an assist from Evans to make it 1-1. Later in the first half, Cyclones senior Abigail Jackson, who along with Savannah Ellis, concluded her CCS career Saturday, buried a rocket of a shot from midfield to put CCS up 2-1. 

The Conquerors tied it on a free kick late in the first half, and took a 3-2 lead early in the second on another foul called outside the box, setting up the dramatic finish. 

“I was very proud of the girls for their grit and tenacity to close out the game,” Bradshaw emailed. “I am very excited for the future of CCS soccer, and we look forward to building on this season.”