Streeter women's soccer coach JT Huey joked Friday that the Bulldogs may have to find a new location or time to play at La Salle Peru.
“This is my second time here and there was sleet and snow,” Huey said. “So I’m telling them they need to find a dome…or they need to play in May.”
With temperatures in the 30s, rain and sleet during warmups, and strong winds, the Bulldogs and Cavaliers played to a 2-2 tie in a nonconference game at the LP Sports Complex.
“Slow feet, that was the talk of the day,” Huey said. “We were slow in our steps. It was our second game of the year. The weather really messed with their heads. I think both teams were a little slow in their steps, but LP always went to the ball first. They were doing a really good job of crushing our defenders, but we just didn't know how to take them on.
“A draw isn't the end of the world. We were hoping for a win, especially with that weird decision at the end, but there's not much you can do about it.”
— Kristin Pappas, La Salle Peru Soccer Coach
“Overall, in weather like this, we're going to go for a draw. Their program has been really great. They gave us a great game. We need to make some adjustments, but , were satisfied with the way we played, especially compared to the first match, which we played against Mendota. [and lost 6-3] And it didn't go very well. Some improvement was seen. ”
Huey said the Bulldogs were good at handling the ball and passing the ball.
“We obviously distributed the ball better,” Huey said. “There were fewer random touches. There was more space stuff, like finding players' feet.”
LP coach Kristin Pappas said she is also seeing improvement in her team.
“I thought our girls played smart,” Pappas said. “They had some beautiful combinations, but that's more of what we work on than long passes or luck. We thought we had what we had.”
Senior forward Zulima Gonzalez sent the ball through the LP defense and Streeter scored the first goal.
The junior midfielder sprinted toward the ball ahead of Cavalier defenders, dribbled his way into the box, and sent the ball into the net with 22:38 left in the first half.
“They had five defensive backs and I was trying to get them to pull the ball towards the flag. Once they got the ball towards the flag, they found space in the middle. That's what it was like. That’s what we did, we had the players, we were able to finish,” Huey said.
Two minutes later, the Cavs responded, as senior forward Rizzi Lopez scored on an assist from senior midfielder Danica Skoma.
“I'm just trying to keep the fire going,” Pappas said of his reaction to the Cavaliers' goal. “We're a proud team. I think it's great to trust each other and be able to answer right away. I love seeing that.”
The game was tied at 1 at halftime, but the Bulldogs regained the lead on a goal by Audrey Arambula with 29:14 remaining.
LP answered again with 24:57 left when Skoma scored off an assist from Abigail Poole.
“What I want to see is the same girl not finishing, and that's what happened,” Pappas said. “I like how our girls are unselfish with the ball.”
The Cavs had a chance to grab the win late in the game.
With 2 1/2 minutes left, the shot bounced off the Streeter keeper. Her LP player bumped into her and her ball bounced before being kicked into the net. However, the shot was waived.
“i guess [the keeper] “She grabbed the headband, so we assumed it was a head injury, but she was just adjusting the headband,” Pappas said. “Unfortunately, our goal was not considered a goal because it meant stopping time.
“A draw isn't the end of the world. We were hoping for a win, especially with that weird decision at the end, but there's not much you can do about it.”