BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Great Bend's girls soccer team went down battling.

The Panthers overcame a 3-goal deficit to force overtime, only to lose 5-4 to Liberal Thursday at Cavanaugh Field.

Liberal's Lilliana Guy scored in the second overtime period for the victory.

Great Bend coach Noel Rodriguez appreciated the comeback effort.

"Down 3-0 is hard to come back, and they did it," said Great Bend coach Noel Rodriguez. "I told my girls that the loss stings, but they have to realize what they did. They stayed fighting. They put themselves back into the game instead of taking themselves out."

Great Bend standout All-Western Athletic Xali Arias earned back-to-back 3-goal games while pushing her season goals to 23. Valeria Cuevas scored a second-half goal to push the match to overtime.

"What a match! Those are the games you love to be a part of," Rodriguez said. "Of course, the winning side is better. It's a great effort from all our girls. I'm proud of them."

Liberal led 4-2 at halftime. Denise Garcia, Ashley Batista, Ana Vela and Guy scored first-half goals.

The stylish Arias scored a pair of first-half goals.

Great Bend (5-4, 2-2 WAC) is 3-2 in games decided by one goal.

GREAT BEND (2-2, 5-4)—W *Hays 2-1; W Wichita Independent 6-0; L Buhler 1-2 (OT); L Topeka West 1-2; W Salina Central 8-1; W *Liberal 2-1 (OT); L *Garden City 0-2; W Salina Central 8-0; L *Liberal 4-5 (OT); 4-20—*at Garden City; 4-23—Junction City; 4-28—*Hays High; 4-30—*at Dodge City; 5-6—Wichita Southeast; 5-13—*Dodge City; 5-15—at Junction City; 5-18-21—at 5A regional