THREE goals in the final seven minutes catapulted MacKillop College to a 4-1 win over Great Lakes College at Tuncurry on Monday.
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The result saw MacKillop progress to the final of the under-15 boys Bill Turner Cup zone final.
It also earned them hosting rights against either Coffs Harbour High School or Bishop Druitt College on June 28, July 1 or July 2.
They didn't have it all their own way, conceding the opening goal while battling into a gale-force wind before equalising moments later.
Mid North Coast representative stars Jack Page and Taye Power O'Toole got on the scoresheet while Evan Lipovic and Huon Lickley also found the back of the net.
"They got the first goal, but our boys didn't put their heads down and got back on level terms within two minutes so certainly the early goal to them didn't dampen our spirits," coach Dom Ashe said.
"If anything it inspired the boys to batten down the hatches because it was pretty tough playing into a gale force wind."
We scored three goals in the last seven minutes to wipe them out, but that's not an indication of how close the game was.
- MacKillop College coach Dom Ashe
Goalkeeper Jordan Hyde was a standout, coming up with a number of high-quality saves to keep his side in the match.
"He could have easily been picking the ball out of the back of his own net," Ashe said.
But he was ably supported by captain Power O'Toole.
"He slotted a very good goal, but he's pound for pound our best player," the coach said.
"He's only a small boy, but doesn't matter how big the opposition is he'll take them on."
Ashe said his side's late three-goal scoring blitz blew the game open.
"We scored three goals in the last seven minutes to wipe them out, but that's not an indication of how close the game was," he said.
We didn't have many shots on goal, but the last three were certainly very decisive that's for sure.
- Dom Ashe
"It comes back to execution.
"The boys didn't stop trying, but the ball basically landed in the position that allowed them to convert.
"We didn't have many shots on goal, but the last three were certainly very decisive that's for sure."
Twelve months ago, MacKillop qualified for the zone final where they were beaten 3-1 by John Paul College from Coffs Harbour.
Fortunately for the Port Macquarie school, their nemesis was knocked out earlier in the tournament.
"Now we go on to play the zone final against the side who surprisingly rolled John Paul College who were the zone winners in the first round 3-2," Ashe said.
"Or the other team is Bishop Druitt (College) and they're usually a very strong team."
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