The Sweet Home girls soccer team started off the season big with a 4-2 victory over Stayton on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Brianna Wirth scored the Huskies’ first goal about 15 minutes into the game, Coach Ramiro Santana said.
“They crossed the ball and got it right at her feet,” Santana said. She scored it from the middle near the goal line.
“And then Jessika (Stewart) scored within like five minutes after that,” Santana said. His defenders were able to launch the ball over the mids and defenders. Stewart picked up one of those and drove the ball straight up the middle using her speed to stay ahead. A couple of minutes later, she repeated the same thing.
The goalie tried to come out on her, but Stewart shot the ball over the top of the goalie into the net, Santana said.
Stayton scored at the end of the first half, he said. Stayton threw the ball in and took a quick shot to the middle.
Kristen Tolle had too many people in the goal around her and didn’t see the ball as it went by her feet, Santana said.
The lack of communication led to another Stayton goal in the second half.
The Huskies ended the first half ahead 3-1.
Jessica Snow ran the left sideline and bottom, using her speed to dribble past defenders, about a minute into the second half and scored, Santana said.
Stayton scored its second goal near the end of the game.
“Defense had a little bobble in communication,” he said.
Speed was the key to the offense, defense and the win, he said. “We work on it hard. Our problem last year on our defense, we were slow.”
This year, the team had speed up front and in back, he said. The Huskies dominated the first half against a team it tied last year.
“It was kind of nice to see we had control most of the game,” Santana said. “We pressured them quite a bit.”
Tolle handled goalie duties in the first half. Sabrina Davis and Alex Hawk both played goalie later in the game. None of them saw the ball much.
Tolle defended on four shots, only one of which went in. Davis and Hawk had six or seven saves total, and Stayton scored against Hawk.
“I’m pretty much rotating the girls,” Santana said. “I’m still looking for what’s working best when I have to sub people, not to lose momentum.”
He also is figuring out adjustment he needs to make in the middle, he said, while maintaining a strong, fast defense and a fast offense.
“Most of my girls in the back are strong and fast,” he said. “They can all kick the ball all the way to the front.”
That’s where Stewart and Snow wait and look for an opportunity to drive the ball in, he said.
“Our girls did really such a great defense, (Stayton) didn’t really get shots on goal,” Santana said. The Huskies had about 10 good shots on goal. Megan Rubidoux had three shots on penalties. Jasmin Yoder had three or four shots while Sarah Nelson had four or five shots.
“We were just shooting crazy,” Santana said. He didn’t have the totals but estimated 20 to 25 shots.
“For what we did I’m pretty happy,” Santana said. “I’m still looking forward to the right tools on the field yet, but the girls played great. They never give up.”