By Ryker Burr
For The New Era
707 days.
That’s how long ago it was since Sweet Home’s girls soccer team last won a game.
The Huskies were on a 21-game losing streak, dating back to Oct. 10, 2023.
But everything changed on Tuesday, when Sweet Home finally emerged victorious, shutting out Gervais/Kennedy, 2-0.
It’s obvious that this feat meant more than your average win.
After his first victory in over two years, a beaming Head Coach Ramiro Santana said, “Getting a win for this group of girls is a great thing because they can start to believe in themselves, and that winning is possible by working hard in practice. It pays off. This is a very young team, so I hope this win creates a positive energy that will lead to more wins.”
Reece Parker-Lindner scored the Huskies’ first goal, early in the first half, and Annabelle Morris delivered the second.
Team Captain and Goalkeeper Lyndie Birkett stated: “Honestly, this is a breath of fresh air. It feels amazing to win a game so early on in the season. I think this sets a good tone for the rest of the season.
In the summer Santana said he wanted his team to “never give up” and he said they have persevered.
“The team played amazing, we communicated very well and we were aggressive to get the ball during the whole game. It was amazing, winning a game because last year we didn’t win a single game. We are going to work hard and practice hard to win more than one this season.”
The Huskies will look to continue their success at home against Junction City, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23. The Tigers are currently 0-6 and ranked two spots lower (27th) than Sweet Home in the state rankings.
