Wright City goalkeeper Paige Rees had never played in a game decided by penalty kicks – until March 27. 

With only a mere 12 yards separating her from the penalty taker, the captain stepped into the goal, feeling the nerves of the moment but also the presence of her teammates cheering her on.

“I knew what I could do and I just had to be there for my team,” Rees said. “Knowing that [my team] works so hard for me and I have to work hard for them now really helped me in the situation.” 

As the first Veritas Christian penalty kicker approached the line, Rees focused on watching the kicker's hips to get a sense of where the ball might go. 

The strategy paid off as she dove to the right, getting both hands on the ball to stop it from reaching the net.

From there, Rees made it look easy. She made two more saves and even scored a penalty kick herself, securing Wright City’s first win of the season. The penalty shootout ended just as it started – with Rees making another crucial save to seal the victory.

“It felt amazing,” Rees said when asked about the moment the final whistle blew. “It felt like we accomplished so many things and all the hard work was rewarded at the end.” 

Rees ended the game with 20 saves. 

“She admitted to me (before PK’s) that she was a little nervous,” Wright City coach Jake Wallace said. “She was saying I’m not ready for that, I’m not good at these and I told her, ‘you’re a stud, go out there and be confident’ and she showed why she shouldn’t be nervous.” 

The game had gone to penalty kicks after both Wright City and Veritas were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. Senior Paige Kirn scored early in the second half to tie it up for the Wildcats. 

Both teams played two 10-minute overtime periods but neither team could break the deadlock. The Wildcats converted two of their four penalty kicks—scored by Rees and Sandy Lopez—while Veritas made just one of their four. Veritas' fourth penalty kicker missed the goal frame. 

Lopez, a junior, was shocked but honored to hear her name called to take a PK. Like Rees, Lopez also felt the nerves of the tense situation. 

As she embarked on the long walk to take her PK, Lopez kept telling herself to, “Calm down, you got this, you can do it, make it for your team.” 

“I was really, really nervous. I knew I needed to make this and I couldn’t fail my team,” Lopez said. “(When I scored) it felt amazing. I was in shock and just really happy for myself and for my team.” 

Wallace noted the Wildcats had practiced PK’s in practice but had not settled on a lineup as they went into the game. 

“I have to give big kudos to my assistant coaches, Coach Harris and Coach Kohlfeld for setting up the lineup because their strategy they employed is what helped us secure the win,” Wallace said. 

Not only did the Wildcats secure their season-opener victory, but they are the first team to win on the new high school’s turf field. 

“For it to be the first ever game on this turf and for it to start out this way and to start out with a win in PK’s is pretty special,” Wallace said. 

“I love this turf and I’m so glad we got to play on it. I feel like it would have been a different game if we weren’t on this field,” Rees added. 

Wallace went on to praise everyone’s role as an integral part in their win. 

“Olivia Wilson was flying all over the field. Madison Goodman, she’s a freshman, and she played incredibly. Our wing backs played great to help clear out the ball. Our midfielders were tracking back,” Wallace said. “It was a full team effort tonight –  that’s how we won the game.” 

Wright City will play the Fulton Hornets at 5 p.m. on April 3 at Fulton High School.