WHITEHOUSE — Monica Mojica scored on the 13th kick in sudden death and Ruby Ocanas blocked the following attempt to give John Tyler a thrilling 5-4 win over defending District 31-4A girls soccer champion Whitehouse on Friday.

The teams fought to a 3-3 tie through the end of regulation. Neither team scored in overtime.

JT received a goal during the Texas Shootout portion on its first attempt from Idania Alvarado. Whitehouse matched the score on its third of five attempts. 

After ending the shootout portion even, both teams missed their first seven shots during sudden death before the final sequence.

“I told the girls they had a chance,” JT coach Paul Frye said. “I believed we’d improved. But what mattered is they showed it on the field. It was a wonderful win.”

The Lady Lions never trailed in regulation, going ahead 1-0 on Lilly Macedo’s goal around the 10th minute.

Esparanza Zavaleta broke a 1-1 tie with a goal from 30 yards away on a free kick in the second half. Nearly 10 minutes later Mary Sue Rosales scored off a breakaway, getting set up by Zavalata, to make it a two-gaol game.

Whitehouse scored twice over the final 15 minutes to force overtime.

Frye cited the defense of the Lady Lions (9-4-3, 2-0), from Ocanas to Eymi Cornelio, Sulema Medina, Kabrea Pipkins and Yelsi Rosales.

JT plays twice at home next week, on Tuesday against Athens and Friday versus Chapel Hill.