WORDSVILLE — Not even Thursday's rainstorm could end the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons' winning streak.
The Lady Falcons scored one goal in the first half in dry conditions, then added two goals in steady rain in the second half, giving them three in a game against the Mexican Lady Bulldogs at the Falcon Athletic Complex. He won 6 consecutive games with a -1 decision.
“I'm speechless,” Blair Oaks coach Jolen Trimble said. “Conditions can have a huge impact on a game, but it's very impressive that a young team came out and didn't let that distract them or use it as an excuse.”
Blair Oaks had a shot on goal from Hattie Meldrum saved 1:30 into the game by Kari Cox, but the Lady Falcons made the most of their second chance.
Mason Davis received a corner kick with just over 23 minutes left in the first half and hit the ball at the back post.
Adi Kekek was waiting in the perfect position, changing the direction of the ball and slotting it into the corner of the net, giving his team a 1-0 lead.
“Once it took off, I could kind of see it and have a good feeling about it,” Trimble said. “It was amazing. Mason Davis turned out the lights in the corner.
“Let it flow to Addie Kekek, and Addie is just doing her job. We told the girls to put their bodies on the line and change the direction of the ball, and she did just that.” executed.”
Despite numerous chances from the Lady Bulldogs, Blair Oaks was able to enter the first half with a one-point lead.
Mexico had six shots in the first 40 minutes, but only two were on goal as the Lady Falcons' last line made things difficult for the Lady Bulldogs.
“Our last line, I want to give a shout out to them because they played in tight spaces, held onto the ball, had combinations in the game and just stayed calm,” Trimble said. Ta. “I'm really speechless.”
However, as the second half began, it started to rain.
Stormsell took Blair Oakes by surprise a bit.
“The girls asked me ahead of time if it was going to rain, and I said, 'No, it won't.' We'll be fine,” Trimble said. “…We were able to go into halftime with a goal lead, so we're like, 'Okay, whatever happens, we still have the lead.'” Right now, we just have to play with the lead. ”
“That was probably one of the worst conditions I've ever coached in.”
The Lady Falcons picked up a big insurance goal early in the first half.
After attempting a clearance to the feet of Davis at the top of the box, he fired a shot past the goalie and into the net with 34 minutes, 58 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 2-0.
“It was a great time,” Trimble said. “If we can do that in these conditions, if we can counter like that and get the ball up and hit it and extend our lead, it's really exciting,” Trimble said. “…She grabbed it and ripped off the top of her box and it flew up. It was beautiful.”
Davis wasn't finished either.
With about 13 minutes remaining, Davis sent a long pass that bounced over the head of Mexico's final line. This pass left Meldrum alone behind the defense with only the goalie in front of him.
Meldrum made it with ease, chipping a shot from the top of the box past the charging keeper and into the net to make it 3-0.
“There was a lot of open field, so we always tell the girls that if they could turn and play, they would have another 15 to 20 yards,” Trimble said. “…The rise to the goal was beautiful, but the finish was beautiful as well.”
The only blight on the night came with about five minutes left.
Emily Moppin was able to take a clean shot from just outside the top left corner of the penalty box, and the ball slipped through the hands of Kylie Hickman in the goal, creating the final margin.
“We wanted a shutout. One of the things we've emphasized is keeping it shutout,” Trimble said. “See if we can maintain a shutout and keep a clean sheet while still having a nice lead.
“Is that a big deal? Actually, I don't think so.”
Hickman finished with four saves in net for the Lady Falcons.
“Credit to Kylie Hickman,” Trimble said. “Oh my god, she played aggressive. She saved some of them, jumped in, I know she got kicked around and pushed around a little bit. Under these circumstances… I'll settle for just conceding a goal.”
Cox also had four net saves for Mexico (3-10-1).
Davis finished the night with one goal and two assists.
Blair Oaks (10-6) returns for senior night at home against Stover on Monday at 6 p.m.