FALLON, Nev. and#8212; Sometimes a little luck is all it takes to get to the state tournament.

In game that saw the winner advance as the last Northern 3A team to this weekand#8217;s state tournament in Lyon County, the Truckee girlsand#8217; soccer team edged Incline, 2-1, after a lucky break went the Wolverinesand#8217; way on a chilly morning at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex.

Instead of preparing for the basketball season, Truckee now gets to play the Northand#8217;s top seed, Elko, on Friday in the state semifinals at either Fernley or Dayton high school. Elko blanked South Tahoe, 2-0, to win the regional title.

---

---

and#8220;The first half we were much stronger,and#8221; Truckee coach Katie Jamison said. and#8220;Yesterdayand#8217;s game (a loss to South Tahoe) was tough because of injuries. The second half, we were running out of juice. The defense held strong.and#8221;

Incline, on the other hand, will be spending the offseason at the lake preparing to make another run at a state berth. These two teams split during the regular season, each by 2-1 scores, as the Highlanders lost by the same score in the rematch that mattered most.

---

---

and#8220;Thatand#8217;s been going on for years. Theyand#8217;re a bigger school,and#8221; Incline coach John Paganelli said. and#8220;We played really well. We had two bad breaks and they both us cost us a goal.and#8221;

With the score knotted at 1 and time dwindling down late in the second half, Truckeeand#8217;s Shauna Day dribbled to the left side of the field and launched soccerand#8217;s version of the Hail Mary. Day drilled a 40-yard free kick near midfield that Incline goalkeeper Sarah Wright appeared to have trapped before it scooted between her legs and gave Truckee a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute.

and#8220;We were really lucky with that second goal,and#8221; Jamison said.

Paganelli agreed.

and#8220;Thatand#8217;s almost 100 percent pure luck,and#8221; he said. and#8220;(If it didnand#8217;t happen), my guess is we would have gone through both overtime periods and it would be decided on penalty kicks.and#8221;

Ali Haines struck first in the game to give Truckee a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the match. Down by one goal in the second half, Inclineand#8217;s Kerri Tonking gave the Highlanders life after sinking the tying goal from the right side in the 45th minute.

and#8220;We did not get lucky,and#8221; Paganelli said. and#8220;This team is mostly sophomores. Weand#8217;ll be back next year and be even better.and#8221;