Stagg’s Ally Mussallem was trying to avoid penalty kicks. Instead, she made one a bit earlier than expected.

The senior midfielder and Purdue recruit converted a penalty kick with 55.5 seconds left in the second overtime Tuesday to lift the visiting Chargers to a 1-0 SouthWest Suburban Red victory over Andrew.

With a shootout looming, Mussallem collected the ball in space with just over a minute to go and dashed toward the goal. She slipped a pass to Veronika Stafira, who was taken down in the box to give Stagg (13-2, 2-0) the PK opportunity.

“I just wanted to finish the game and not have to go to PKs,” Mussallem said. “I looked to attack the back line and ‘V’ made the great run, so I slipped it to her and the girl clipped her.”

Stepping up for the penalty kick, Mussallem changed her strategy late, then sent a line drive that diving Andrew goalkeeper Gabby Sportiello deflected with her hands but not enough to keep it out.

“I was a little nervous because (Sportiello) was on the side I normally shoot toward,” Mussallem said. “I went the other way instead, and she got a really good touch on it, but luckily it still went in.”

Andrew (12-4, 1-1) had one more chance on a free kick with under 20 seconds to go, but could not put a shot on goal.

The Thunderbolts did a valiant job defending Mussallem, but could not shut her down for the full 100 minutes.

“She kind of lulls you to sleep,” Andrew coach Loren Zolk said. “She’s a really dynamic player.”

Sportiello, who finished with five saves, dove to knock away Grace Javaras’ shot in the first half and denied Stafira’s header with another diving stop in the second OT.

Sydney Downs made three saves for Stagg. Andrew’s best scoring chance came when Megan Nemec took a pass from Erin Jaskierski and ripped a hard shot off the crossbar with 11:30 to go.

It was the 12th shutout of the season for the Chargers, who received big defensive efforts from Javaras, Maggie O’Leary, Eilis Hannon and Maja Persa.

O’Leary, like Mussallem, joined the Chargers this season after playing club exclusively for the last two years.

“I knew we were going to have a great team, so I wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “We’re all working together really well as a group defensively and communicating well.”

With voting set to take place Wednesday, the win likely sealed Stagg’s position as the top seed in the Class 3A Reavis Sectional.

“We knew how big this game was for seeding and for the conference race,” Stagg coach Allison Kaim said. “We can’t let up now, though. We still have a long way to go.”

Andrew is hoping for a postseason rematch.

“I’m proud of our girls for battling with them for 100 minutes,” Zolk said. “If we get another chance, we’ve just got to find a way to score on them.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.