BRANDON — The Otter Valley Union High School girls’ soccer team wrote another chapter in its historic season on Tuesday, when the Otters won a playoff game for the first time.
In a Division III first-round game, the No. 8 Otters defeated visiting No. 9 Williamstown, 2-1, when senior converted field hockey player Amy Jones one-timed home a feed from classmate Isabelle Kingsley with 4:17 left in the first overtime period.
The Otters this season had already set records for wins, and Tuesday’s home playoff game was a program first.
OV improved to 10-5 and will travel to meet top-seeded BFA-Fairfax (11-2-2) on Friday. The Otters and Bullets did not face one another this fall, but have two common foes, and the results suggest Friday’s game could be competitive. The Bullets defeated visiting Leland & Gray, 2-1, while OV split with L&G, winning at home, 2-1, but losing on the road, 4-1. On Tuesday, the Bullets defeated Twin Valley in their first-round game, 2-0. OV twice defeated Twin Valley by 2-0 scores.
In Brandon on Tuesday, OV took the early lead when Olivia Drew banged home the rebound of a Jones shot.  
Williamstown (9-5-1) controlled much of the second half, and OV coach Rick Hedding credited strong play from goalie Gabby Poalino (12 saves) and defenders Jillian Flanders, Shana Houle, Nicole Rossi, Haley Gearwar and Mollie McGee for keeping the visitors off the board until the late going.
But Williamstown equalized in the final minute, when Elizabeth Laughlin converted on a corner kick to force extra time.
The Otters fought back and controlled overtime and nearly won it before Jones’ game-winner, only to see a Drew penalty kick sail just high.