SHELBY — Katie Bullock came up big for the second game in a row. Bullock scored the game winner with 9.3 seconds left in regulation Friday as No. 10 Salisbury upset No. 7 Shelby 3-2 in a second-round 2A state playoff game.

The ball started in the Hornets’ end of the field. Julia Honeycutt launched the ball deep into Shelby territory. Bullock squeezed between two defenders and then only needed a slight touch to get her third goal of the postseason.

“Basically, Katie all she had to do was put a toe on it,” Salisbury head coach Matt Parrish said. “We literally traveled almost the length of the field in 30 seconds to put it in the back of the net.”

Along with the game-winning goal, Bullock notched an assist.

Salisbury (17-2-1) moves on to the third round and has a potential rematch with Central Carolina Conference champion West Davidson on the horizon. The Green Dragons, seeded No. 2 in the 2A West, play No. 15 Monroe Parkwood at home Saturday.

“I want West Davidson to win,” Parrish said. “I don’t know where I heard the old sports adage, but it’s hard to play somebody three times, especially if things come out on the good end the first two times.”

The Golden Lions (15-5-1) went up 1-0 44 seconds into the game on a Lliana Stachowicz goal. The speed of the opening score put the Hornets back on their heels.

“We were shell-shocked, absolutely dumbfounded,” Parrish said. “We just couldn’t believe it.”

Salisbury tied the game at the midpoint in the first half on Adna Music’s goal that was assisted by Honeycutt.

Shelby pushed back in front 2-1 on another Stachowicz goal with 23:12 left off a Rebecca Burton assist. It took only two minutes for Salisbury to strike back as Ceci Cardelle, assisted by Bullock, scored.

 

The Shelby Star contributed to this report.