The girls soccer team competed against Little Elm Feb. 27 at Brian Brazil Stadium. The team won 2-1, holding an overall record of 11-6-1 and a district record of 5-5-1. It was teacher appreciation night where each player brought out a teacher to the pitch.
“This was a really important game for us to win,” head coach Rebecca Sawers said. “I’m really proud of the way the team played. We went out there and gave 100% effort the entire game.”
The game began with no goals and over five missed chances throughout the first half. In the last and 39th minute of the first half, forward Tess Willey scored from inside the box with an assist from defender Alejandra Lopez, ending the first half with a score of 1-0.
“We had a lot of chances, but we didn’t always put away those chances,” Sawers said. “If we can finish in that final third, I think we can become an even more dangerous team.”
Starting the second half, midfielder Krystian Cloutier was subbed off with an injury. In the 43rd minute, Little Elm scored, bringing the score to a tie 1-1. After halftime, the match continued with over five more missed chances, as well as a foul called on the Hawks at the 60th minute.
“Our team has definitely grown,” center back Addison Miller said. “There’s some things we need to work on, but I feel like at the rate we’re going, we’ll definitely be able to fix those problems before playoffs and hopefully get pretty far in.”
The game progressed with no goals until the clock was paused in the last minute to sub off defender Chandler Winful. As the final seconds on the clock ticked, Little Elm performed a hand ball and gave a free kick to the Hawks. With five seconds remaining, Miller passed the ball to striker Leah Simpson who made the goal, winning the game 2-1.
“[When] Miller put the cross in, I was like ‘okay I have to make this,’” Simpson said. “[Then] I put it in and [it] was so crazy. I was so excited and joyful.”
Previously, the Hawks faced Little Elm and mercy ruled them with a score of 9-1. The top four teams in the district ranking make it to the playoffs, and with this game’s result the team is standing in fifth.
“This game was really a fight,” Sawers said. “They brought their best and I think we brought ours. It was a bit of a different game, but a really good one.”
