The Bruin girls varsity soccer team played their first home game and second league game of the 2022 season coming off a decisive league opener on the road taking on the Lady Red Devils in Coquille last Tuesday, September 6th, and coming home with a 5-1 victory.
On Wednesday, the Bruin girls played their first home game of the season, hosting the North Valley Lady Knights who were coming off a 2-1 win on the road over St. Mary’s to open their season.
Both teams came out looking to attempt to control mid-field play and create fast break opportunities offensively. The two similar game plans intensified as ball control and short passes became the only way to advance the ball and maintain control. Attempts to push the ball over the top of the defenses or to the corners was defended fiercely, resulting in few shots on goal.
North Valley found space between the Bruin girls mid-fielders and defensive backs late in the first half working the ball into the penalty box for a cross where the Bruins would be called for a hand ball, allowing the first goal of the game to come off of a penalty kick 31:00 minutes into the first half, giving the Lady Knights a 0-1 lead.
The Bruin girls would regroup after the half time break, setting up a break away opportunity for senior mid-fielder Zoe Carlson, who would put the Bruin girls on the board, and tie the score at 1-1 just 8:00 minutes into the second half of play.
A penalty committed by North Valley in the penalty box would send senior defender Marissa Scott to the penalty spot 18:00 minutes into the second half, putting the ball past the North Valley keeper giving the Bruin girls a 2-1 lead.
But Hidden Valley would turn up the pressure, just missing an opportunity to even the score after hitting the crossbar on direct free kick from outside the penalty area. But it would be a costly Bruin error on a routine pass that would turn the game, leading to two late second half Lady Knight goals to take the win over the Bruin girls, 1-2.
The Bruin girls will take their now 1-1 league record on the road to challenge 1-0 Lakeview this Friday afternoon at 4:00pm.
