Streeter – Had sharp shots on net, controlled the soccer ball and scored two goals in 2 1/2 minutes. For the first 25 minutes, it looked like Streeter's Bulldogs would run away with a regional quarterfinal match against Route 23 rival Ottawa. .
The Pirates never conceded, but those two goals, combined with Streeter's ball control, proved to be enough.
Streeter shut out Ottawa 2-0 in a Class 2A La Salle Peru Regional play-in game on Friday at the new James Street Recreation Area field. With the win, the Bulldogs (11-10-3) advance to district play, where they will play top-seeded Morton at LP Athletic Complex on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
“I’m interested in watching the huddle.” [game video]” Streeter coach JT Huey said. [passing] The strings you get are 2 plus, 3 plus, 4 plus – I think the ratio is pretty high. We did a really good job of capitalizing on misdirection, getting the ball on the wings, finding the middle, giving and going, and so on.
“And we kept the ball. That's what won that game, possession.”
The Pirates (6-14-2) are at the end of their season.
“We handled ourselves really well in the second half,” Pirates coach Kevin Olesen said. “Unfortunately, the girls didn't take their chances, but I was happy with their effort on the field today.
“Streeter is a tough team, a physical, aggressive, fast team that pushed us to the limit. But overall, I’m happy with how the season turned out. We really It's a young team, so I expect a lot from them.”
Streeter senior Ofelia Orozco was in the midst of the Bulldogs' goals on both sides, scoring her first goal just over 21 minutes into the game off a nice-looking assist from Audrey Arambula. Then, with 16:34 left in the first half, Orozco started the All-Senior chain. Bridget McGuirk and Zuzu Gonzalez scored from their feet, with Gonzalez pasting Ottawa keeper Sherin Miller and finding the back of the net for the Bulldogs to make it 2-0.
“The first goal was Alyssa just put a cross in the middle. I really didn't expect it,” Orozco said. “And I always had visions of it hitting the crossbar because I hit it, but I was so happy to finally get it into the back of the goal.
“And the second time, it was like ping pong. The ball movement was really good today.”
As it turned out, that was the last goal scored on the night, even though Streeter had a 23-12 advantage in shots on goal.
Miller was helped by a strong defense from Isabella Petty, Mary Rodriguez and Sariah Poliar, who finished with 14 saves against two goals allowed, including a non-goalie save on Streater's shot from close range in the second. . half.
Miller's counterpart, Streeter goalie Charlie McMullen, had a mostly quiet day thanks to his team's ability to control play. She earned the shutout with eight saves and outstanding assists from defenders Iliana Gomez, Joey Puetz and especially Josie Goerne, as well as sideline-dominant play from Alyssa Arambula on the left sideline.
The win gave Streeter its second consecutive .500 season and Hughie took over a program that had never won, regardless of the outcome of Wednesday's matchup with Mid-Illini Conference champion Morton. This is guaranteed to be his sixth season since 2012.
“We're going to play against a quality soccer program from a quality soccer field,” Huey said of the Bulldogs' next game. “But these girls have proven they can play on teams like Washington and Lyle.
“I think if we go in with a good mentality and be aggressive, we can have a good game.”