Written by Donald Heath
Featured in the Effingham Herald
GUYTON – For 40 minutes in Friday night's soccer game against Evans, the South Effingham girls team had the statistical advantage and, more importantly, the advantage on the scoreboard.
But the Mustangs couldn't contain Knights junior forward Len Chochul forever.
Chochul scored three goals (two in overtime) and assisted on another goal in South's 4-2 loss to Evans in a key Region 2-6A matchup.
The Mustangs (2-3, 1-2, Region 2-6A) are trailing Evans (3-3, 2-3) in the battle for No. 4 in the region standings (and a spot in the state playoffs). dropped by a percentage point.
“We were proud of their effort. They persevered tough,” said SEHS coach Kate Blaske. “No one gave up. No one put their heads down. It was a learning experience and we'll see (Evans) again.”
The Mustangs have been more than capable of playing Cho-chul, who has scored 10 goals in six games this season. Her second goal came at 7:53 of the first 10 minutes of overtime, breaking the tie at 2-2. She added another goal about four minutes later to give the Knights some breathing room.
Minami started the game with a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal in the first half.
Sophomore Braylin Holt put the Mustangs ahead with a scoring opportunity with 11:20 left in the first half.
But Evans yelled back. A sign of things to come came early in the second half, when Cho Chol's shot slipped through the defense and hit the post.
About four minutes later, the Knights' Jalin Souza scored the game-winner after receiving a feed from Chochul.
Approximately five minutes later, at 31:52, Chochul's first goal gave Evans the lead, 2-1.
It was an up-and-down performance that the Knights have repeated all season. On February 13, they lost 2-1 in overtime to Effingham County. Three days later, seven different players scored in an 8-1 win over the Rebels.
“(Cochol) is tough. They have some good players for sure,” Blaske said.
South struggled to generate any offense in the second half, but got a break when the Mustangs were brought down in the penalty area with 6:57 left. The foul resulted in a penalty, which junior Giada Tamargo calmly converted to tie the game at 2-2.
“(The penalties) motivated them, but the tension (in overtime) was a big factor. We just need to calm down,” Blaske said.
Chochul and his teammates dominated the overtime period. After the first half break, they finished with a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal.
South goaltender Valencia Collins made six of her seven saves in the second half and overtime.
The SEHS girls have a big part of their upcoming schedule planned. The Mustangs will travel to Springfield to face rival Effingham County on February 27th. They will play the top three girls teams at home: Lakeside (Friday, March 1st), Glynn Academy (Tuesday, March 5th), and Grovetown (Friday, March 8th). Regional standings – Follow.
