PORT NECHES — Hailey Loupe to the rescue.

The Port Neches-Groves junior came through in the clutch Friday by scoring with 4:12 left in the match to give the Lady Indians a 2-1 win over Goose Creek Memorial.

“I just knew if we didn’t win this, the district championship might not come as easy,” Loupe said. “We had to strive through and get a goal in. We knew we had to win. We were playing with all heart tonight.”

Friday’s match against the Patriots was a big one for the Lady Indians. PN-G went into the match a point up on Goose Creek for third place.

Loupe’s goal made sure the Lady Indians (11-5-2, 6-2-1) ended the week with a little more cushion over the Lady Patriots.

Keeper Libbie LeJeune came up just as big for the Lady Indians Friday. LeJeune had a huge save not even a minute after Loupe’s game-winning goal.

“She [LeJeune] keeps getting better and better,” PN-G coach Aimee Bates said. “This is her first year playing soccer and you sometimes can’t tell. That was a big save at a big moment.”

Loupe scored the Lady Indians’ first goal of the match with 26:03 left in the first half.

The 1-0 lead held through halftime and the Lady Patriots finally got one past LeJeune with 36:07 remaining in the match.

It almost looked like it would stay a tie, but Loupe seemed to be close to scoring or assisting a goal several times in the second half.

She had a beautiful cross into the box late in the match, but a shot on the other side of the pass somehow did not find the back of the net.

Loupe during the next attack decided to take care of the scoring herself.

“Besides the two amazing goals, her work off the ball was great,” Bates said. “She was all over the field. She played awesome tonight. She puts it all out there and stops at nothing.”

The Lady Indians can make up some ground on the District 22-5A frontrunners next week. PN-G travels Tuesday to face Lumberton and then hosts Nederland next Friday.