The high school girls held a lead most of the way against Cottage Grove in soccer on Oct. 11 at home but lost by a goal in overtime.
Rachel Jones turned in the first goal of the game on an assist from Katie Virtue a little more than a minute into the game, said Coach Ramiro Santana.
Cottage Grove started with possession, but the Huskies grabbed the ball and took it up the left side, Santana said. “Katie crossed the ball toward the goal and got it in Rachel’s feet, and she just took a shot.”
Cottage Grove tied the score in the minute 17 on a shot across the goal from the left, Santana said.
Santana switched Jasmin Yoder to forward right, he said. “Jasmin ran over it and past the defenders to take the shot.”
Her shot bounced off the goalkeeper, but she kicked it again and put it in the net, Santana said. The Huskies led 2-1 at halftime.
Cottage Grove scored again on a penalty kick in the minute eight in the second half to tie the game 2-2. No one scored again, and the game went into overtime, two 10-minute periods.
“They ended up getting a corner kick from the right side of the field,” Santana said. Cottage Grove is taller and controlled the play, scoring on a header in the minute 7 of the first half of overtime.
The Huskies had 16 shots on the game compared to six for Cottage Grove.
“We dominated the game,” Santana said. “We had them. That’s why we were ahead all the time.”
But the girls were out of gas by overtime.
“I think the girls were worn out a little too much,” Santana said. Many of them participated in powder puff football the night before.
Jessika Stewart injured her right knee during the powder puff game and will undergo surgery. She will be out for the rest of the season.
Santana is pleased with the improvements his team has made this year, he said. “Every game we have played, we have played better. I think we get better every time.”
He is hoping to see that improvement get the Huskies a win at home against Junction City Thursday.
The Huskies travel to Sisters on Oct. 25 and host La Pine on Oct. 27 to finish the regular season.
The Huskies are 3-5-1 and tied for fourth in league at 2-4 with Elmira and ahead of La Pine, 0-6. Junction City and Cottage Grove are 4-2 while Sisters leads at 6-0.