A single goal added a second loss to the Huskies’ record in girls soccer Monday afternoon at Linn-Benton Community College.
Santiam Christian scored the only goal in a heavily defensive game, about 32 minutes into the contest.
“The girls played very good,” Coach Ramiro Santana said. “It was a tough game to play, but we had our chances. It was a tough game pretty much from the start. We played a lot of defense back and forth.”
The game had few shots, he said. Now and then someone would get out with the ball and take a shot.
The Huskies had five or six good shots, he said. Kristen Tolle had 11 saves at keeper, with six or seven really threatening shots from the Eagles.
The Huskies had two good chances to tie the game or even win, Santana said. Jessica Snow and Sabrina Davis both had opportunities if they could have swung the ball in from the sidelines.
“That first half, (Santiam) had more control than we did,” Santana said. In the second half, the Huskies had the ball more often.
On Thursday, the Huskies had better luck with another tough opponent, Western Mennonite, at home, scoring the first goal with just seven minutes left in the game but giving up a goal to Western to end up in a tie.
Sweet Home lost 9-0 to the Pioneers last year.
Davis scored the Huskies’ only goal in minute 73 after a shot by Snow bounced away. Davis caught the loose ball in the middle right in front of the box and kicked it in.
Western answered immediately with a goal of its own. With seconds left on the clock, the Huskies rushed the ball down the field but didn’t get a game-winning shot in.
Tolle had six saves against Western. Megan Rubidoux shot the ball nine times.
The Huskies’ schedule is continuing with tough teams, including Central at home on Wednesday and Blanchett still to go next week.
“From now on, we’ve got tough ones coming in,” Santana said. “It’s a matter of who is going to execute. It’s not going to be big scores. It’s going to be very tight.”
But the girls are still improving every game, and they’re in a position to win these games, he said. Teams like Western Mennonite defeated the Huskies by large margins last year. This year, they’re tying.
“We’re there,” Santana said. “It’s one of those where you’re pulling your hair out the whole darn game.”