The Lady Bruins continued their brutal road schedule as regular season play comes to an end next week.
The Lady Bruins traveled to Springfield Saturday to take on the Catlin Gable Lady Eagles who also traveled from Portland to the neutral field at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield for this non-league contest.
The 3A/2A/1A-SD4 OSAA ranked 7-0 Lady Bruins knew going into the game that the 3A/2A/1A-SD1 OSAA ranked #1 Catlin Gable Lady Eagles would test their resolve, and the Lady Bruins showed up to play.
Both teams spent the first 30 plus minutes respectfully probing and testing the other’s defense, looking for something to exploit without exposing themselves at the same time to scoring opportunities for the other teams offense.
The Lady Eagles last five games have been against teams in the top 10 OSAA ranked teams, had scored 17 goals in those 5 games and had not been scored on, until the halfway mark in the first half of play when Lady Bruin sophomore striker Hannah James #5 broke free and found the back of the net putting the Lady Bruins up 1-0.
The Lady Eagles turned up the pressure on the Lady Bruins, and the physical play that started the contest continued at an even higher level. The Lady Bruins adjusted to the pressure and the Lady Bruin defense came together behind Lady Bruin keeper Annie Nation who had 24 saves in the game, slowing down the Lady Eagle attack, clearing the ball and keeping the Lady Eagles off the scoreboard until a determined Lady Eagle team put together an attack that beat Lady Bruin keeper Annie Nation, tying the game at 1-1 at the half.
In the second half of play, Catlin Gables continued with the ball control offense, running the clock and not allowing the Lady Bruins to put together an offensive attack, breaking down the Lady Bruin defense for 3 more goals in the second half, handing the Lady Bruins their first loss, 1-4.
The Lady Bruins will be home Tuesday afternoon at 2:00pm celebrating senior night against the South Umpqua Lady Lancers.
