The girls soccer team has two games left this week, counting Tuesday’s matchup against Elmira at home, and then the season finale at Junction City.
The Huskies scored a 2-1 victory at Sutherlin Tuesday, Oct. 13, as Ashley Wickline and Cora McKee put the ball in the net twice.
At home Thursday, Sweet Home ran into a buzzsaw of speedy forwards from Cottage Grove, which ran out to a 4-1 lead by halftime, Jessilyn Thomas fighting her way through the Lions’ defense to score midway through the first period. In the second, Maddy Hawken scored for the Huskies but Cottage Grove added three more goals by launching long balls past Sweet Home’s defense, then using its speed to get them into the goal.
“Our defenders are good, but we don’t have the speed to stop them,” Coach Ramiro Santana said.
“Sarah (Dunkley) is the only real speed we have in the back. They scored by putting the ball over the top of our heads.”
Speedy defenders have done a lot to stop the Huskies offense as well, he said. With Allison Wickline out, the pressure has been on her sister, Ashley, to try to create something out of her middle halfback position.
“Our middle have to get better balance,” Santana said. “Ashley can only do so much.”
The Huskies, 1-7 in league and 1-9-1 overall, celebrate Senior Night on Tuesday.