For 105 minutes Wednesday, the Northern Nash and Rocky Mount High girls' soccer programs persevered.

There were bad breaks and worse luck.

Tough shots and tougher saves.

Hard fouls and blown opportunities.

And zero goals.

But then, at the end of the second overtime period, the Knights failed to clear the ball.

Suddenly, Rocky Mount's freshman midfielder Kelsey Benson was passing the ball to Michelle Barringer.

And just as suddenly, Barringer was firing a shot across the Northern Nash goal. It was a hard shot, and it forced Northern Nash goalkeeper Ally Glover, in a diving attempt to make the save, to jump off her injured leg.

There was celebration after that, and tears. Northern Nash had one more chance, from midfield on the restart, that fell innocently into Rocky Mount High goalkeeper Holly Campbell's hands.

With the referee's final whistle, Rocky Mount had defeated Northern Nash, 1 -0, in the NEW 6 Conference Tournament semifinals.

"I just reacted," Barringer said of the final shot. "I just shot it. I knew we didn't have time left."

The No. 3 seed Gryphons (13-6-1) will face Wilson Fike at 7 tonight at Northern Nash for the tournament championship.

The Gryphons should have tired legs, especially since they played with 13 girls.

Of course, they never let up during this one. Playing against a second-seeded Knights team that literally kept its bench full, the Gryphons played the role of the aggressor.

Glover faced 25 shots on goal. Two went off the post, and double that many looked sure to go in.

Each time, though, Glover found a way to keep the Knights in the game for just a little longer.

She almost didn't stay in it herself, her right leg mistakenly kicked during a collision.

"(Glover) makes shots look routine," McCarthy said. "She's a tough kid. As a freshman, it takes a lot, when you get a good knock like that, to stay in the match. I am proud of her."

The Knights' season is not done. They'll be the No. 3 seed from the NEW 6 when the playoffs begin next week.

"I told mine all year long that if you don't execute the simplest things, it'll come back to bite you in the end," McCarthy said.

Wilson Fike 4

Nash Central 0

In the three years of the NEW 6 Conference, the Wilson Fike Golden Demons have never been defeated. The streak, now at 35, will continue for at least one more game after the team's 4-0 dispatching of No. 4 seed Nash Central on Thursday.

Still, the Bulldogs (10-12) gave one heck of an effort in hopes of an upset.

It was a 2-0 game for much of the way, until the Bulldogs' legs grew tired in the final moments.

And while coach Jeremy Jones' strategy to slide eight back into the defensive zone, to counter the eight attacking Golden Demons, resulted in a lower score than expected, the Bulldogs managed only three shots on goal themselves.

Nash Central goalkeeper Krystal French recorded 26 saves, and her defense blocked countless more.

"There were a couple of times when we rotated quickly, and stepped in front (of the shots)," Jones said. "(Krystal) let one in that she shouldn't have, but after that she held up pretty well."

It was something to build on, especially after the way Fike had routed (8-0, 5-1) the Bulldogs twice earlier this season.

"I couldn't be much prouder than I am," Jones said.

H. Williams Kellenberger can be reached at 407-9950 or hwkellenberger@coxnc.com

Wilson Fike 4

Nash Central 0

Saves: NC – Krystal French (26)

Rocky Mount High 1

Northern Nash 0

Goals: RMH – Michelle Barringer

Assists: RMH – Kelsey Benson

Saves: NN – Ally Glover (24); RMH – Holly Campbell (9)