Olympia boys soccer wins overtime thriller in regional quarterfinals | Observer Preps

The Olympia High boys soccer team weathered a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows Feb. 7 to defeat Hagerty 3-2 in overtime of the FHSAA Class 5A, Region 1 Quarterfinals.

Senior forward Jonathan Masesa scored the game-winning goal five minutes into the overtime period, sending he and his Olympia (18-4-1) teammates into a frenzy.

The Titans had trailed twice in the game, first after a penalty kick 10 minutes into the match. Later, after a goal from Marcos Couto had tied the game early in the second half, Hagerty (18-4-1) had gone ahead again with just over 20 minutes to play.

That set the stage for a goal on a header by Juan Garcia — on a near-perfect pass from Samuel Sepulveda — with nine minutes left in the match. That goal would force overtime, where Masesa's big goal would deliver Olympia to the next round of the playoffs.

"It is a character test — my boys, they're fighters," Titans head coach Lou Romao said. "At the end, they somehow always push together and win."

The goal by Masesa came just minutes after Romao had gotten on his senior forward about taking shots when they were available, noting a missed opportunity toward the end of regulation. It was something Masesa was mindful of when opportunity presented itself again in overtime.

"I knew I had to do better than that — that's why I took (the shot) with my left foot," Masesa said. "It's my first time (going to the regional semifinals) so I'm really excited."

Olympia will now face Seminole — which ended the Titans' season in 2017 — on the road at 7 p.m. Saturday in the regional semifinals.