Battle-tested and ready for the playoffs.
That’s the best way to describe the surging Lady Tiger soccer
team this week, after a pair of hard-fought battles against the
league’s elite teams.
Last week began with a heartbreaking, 1-0 loss to Windsor, a
game that the Tigers dominated for long stretches with no
reward.
Analy (13-4-1, 6-4) traveled to six-time defending champion Casa
Grande on Oct. 14, giving the Gauchos more than they bargained for
in a 2-1 overtime loss.
The Tigers drew first blood in the opening half when freshman
Mackenzie Boulton took a pass from Rachel Hargrave and shot it past
a leaping Casa goalie for a 1-0 lead at the half. Analy controlled
the tempo for much of the second period, but the Gauchos would draw
even with 15 minutes left in the frame when they broke through for
the equalizer.
With the game moving to overtime, Casa tallied the go-ahead
score off a corner kick in the first of two 10-minute periods, and
then held off every Analy threat the rest of the way for a 2-1
win.
“It was disappointing but a step up for us to take the league
champion of the last six years to overtime,” said Analy coach
Joseph Heil. “I think the girls were a bit down about it after
taking the lead and dominating them in the first half, but we just
couldn’t sustain that in the second half.”
The Tigers will host Healdsburg on senior night on Oct. 20
(after press time), and close out the league schedule next
Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Sonoma. Game times starting with the JV are 5
and 7 p.m.
Lions fall to Petaluma, Casa
The Lady Lions are nearing the finish line in league play this
week, following a pair of losses to Petaluma, 3-0, and Casa Grande,
4-1.
El Mo was at a distinct disadvantage against the Trojans on Oct.
13, with no substitutes available due to a rash of injuries. The
ladies battled gamely throughout, spotting Petaluma a 1-0 halftime
lead before allowing another pair of goals after intermission.
The Lions turned in a strong outing against Casa, as the Gauchos
led 1-0 at the break before El Mo tied it up on a second-half goal
from Isy Ruiz. On the play, Ruiz got the ball on a free kick from
Val LaForge and drove it home. It was all Gauchos the rest of the
way, powering to an eventual, 4-1 win.
The Lions (1-13-1, 0-10) will finish up the league campaign at
Windsor on Oct. 20 (after press time), and home against Healdsburg
this Friday, Oct. 22 (4/5:30 p.m.).
