BAYTOWN — Baytown to Humble is not as far as Baytown to Nederland.

Not ready to go home (for the season, that is), Nederland won a 4-1 shootout over Friendswood after a 1-1 tie Friday night at Stallworth Stadium. Senior Abby Gray capped off the shootout with her successful kick, and freshman Morgan McBride made a key save to go with the 10 she collected through overtime.

“I just know you have to stay positive,” McBride said. “It’s all mental. It’s a mental game, mostly, so you have to stay positive, and it’s just all teamwork and dedication. We get it from our coach.”

Although Nederland had a sizable shootout lead going into Gray’s turn, the experience of taking the winning kick was still nerve-wracking to her.

“… But with a lot of confidence and positivity, I was able to trust that I had it,” Gray said. “I just aimed for the corner, and I knew with my team, I could do it.”

Meg Sheppard, Destyn Miguez, Jenna Brekel and Gray converted the shootout goals for Nederland (20-1-5). Olivia Rhodes made Friendswood’s first attempt, but McBride stopped Emma Sutherland’s shot, and Pumarie Madden sailed a shot over the crossbar, allowing Gray to close it out.

Next stop for the Bulldogs is the 5A Region III semifinal against Pflugerville, a 3-0 winner over Georgetown, next Friday at Turner Stadium at Humble High School. Nederland played in that round two years ago, losing 1-0 to Leander Rouse.

“It’s not going to happen this time,” McBride said.

Said Gray: “This time, with a lot of hard work, we’re going to beat [Pflugerville]. With a lot of positivity and trust in each other, I think we’re going to get them.”

Sheppard evened the score at 1-1 with 29:21 left in regulation on a direct kick. The Bulldogs’ defense managed to limit Friendswood’s shot opportunities down the stretch after the Mustangs (24-2-2) — who outscored Memorial and Angleton 16-0 in their two previous matches — dominated possession in the first half.

“We weren’t matching that physicality” in the first half, Bulldogs coach Aaron Tomplait said. “If we wanted to be in it, they had to rise up and match it, which is what we usually do. We threw them off their game. I think they’ve had not an easy route but they haven’t been pushed like we pushed them. …

“To get out of this one is awesome.”

Friendswood took a 1-0 lead with 7:54 left in the first half, as Victoria Davis headed in a corner kick by Olivia Rhodes.

Friendswood nearly headed in a goal to break a longstanding tie with 18 seconds left in the second overtime period, but the shot just hit the crossbar.

•

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews