Coach Kyla Siri and her undefeated Lady Bruin varsity soccer team took the field Thursday afternoon against the Sutherlin Lady Bulldogs.
Again, if you weren’t there for the opening kick-off, chances are you missed the first goal of the game. Lady Bruin freshman midfielder Zoe Carlson #9 followed a shot blocked by the Sutherlin keeper and buried it in the back of the net just 2 minutes into the game.
But the Lady Bulldogs, with the taste of their 1-0 loss to the Lady Bruins earlier in the season still in their mouth, were determined to exact revenge. They tightened up their defense, and challenged the Lady Bruins attack at midfield, forcing the Lady Bruins into a ball control game.
That would prove to be a big mistake by the Sutherlin team. Few teams have been able to match the Lady Bruins in skill sets, and the Lady Bruins made them pay. 24:00 minutes into the first half sophomore striker Hannah James #5 ripped a shot from the top of the penalty box putting the Lady Bruins up 2-0 before the half.
The second half was much of the same, ball control in the middle of the field with an occasional fast break over the top. But the Lady Bruins weren’t done, and sophomore midfielder Lilly Stockton put a well placed cross into the box and #10 Avana Pettus beat the disguised double coverage that frustrated her through out the day and put one behind the keeper.
Leading 3-0 the Lady Bruins kept up the pressure, forcing the Lady Bulldogs to clear balls out the zone meaning turnovers with throw ins and corner kicks. One of those corner kicks found Hannah James who sent the ball through traffic and into the goal making the score 4-0.
The Lady Bruins are on the road next Tuesday to Myrtle Creek to take on the South Umpqua Lady Lancers at 5:00 pm who suffered a 3-0 loss to the Lady Bruins in their last meeting.
