The 1-2-1 Cascade Christian Lady Challengers made the trip from Medford to the coast as the 2-2-1 Bruin girls varsity soccer team hosted the Lady Challengers Wednesday afternoon.
After the opening kick, the Bruin girls used their speed and ball control to push the majority of play into the Cascade Christian half of the field.
Just minutes into the game, with the Lady Challengers pushed back in front of their own goal, the ball popped free outside the goal box and freshman forward, #11, Ellie Hanneman collected it up, and put behind the Cascade Christian keeper to start all scoring and give the Bruin girls a 1-0 lead.
But Cascade Christian would rally, putting pressure on the Bruin girls mid-field and breaking away down the right side, beating the Bruin girls keeper to the right corner to tie the game at 1-1 with 19:00 minutes left to play in the first half.
After the break, a Bruin girl half time adjustment paid off quickly after the Bruin girls attacked the left half of the field, getting junior forward Amelia Bruce, #10, behind the Lady Challenger defense and get a shot off into the upper right hand corner of the net, giving the Bruin girls a 2-1 lead early in the second half.
Cascade Christian would have moments of extended ball control in the Bruin defensive end, but the Bruin girls defense would not allow the Lady Challenger offensive attack to get a quality shot on goal as they continued to attack the left half of the Cascade Christian defense.
Bruin girls forward, junior, Amelia Bruce, #10, consistently broke down the right side of the Cascade Christian defense, getting behind the defenders and putting shots on the goal. This would ultimately end with Bruce being fouled in the penalty box and a penalty kick that she would convert for her second goal of the half, putting the Bruin girls up 3-1.
Although the Lady Challengers would threaten late in the second half of play, the Bruin girls would go on to take the 3-1 win. The Bruin girls will be on the road next Tuesday, back in Medford to challenge the undefeated St. Mary’s Lady Crusaders at 4:00pm.