Second half struggles cost the Medical Lake girl’s soccer victories last week and likely any chance of postseason play next.
While the Cardinals played solidly in the first halves of their two Northeast A League matches in losses of 5-1 at home to Newport (5-6 NEA, 7-7 overall) last Tuesday and 5-0 on the road at Freeman (8-2, 9-4) Oct. 22, second half offensive explosions did them in.
The Cardinals (2-10, 2-12) struck first with the usual combination as Makayla Geiger took a pass from Nicole Wetherall just two minutes into the match for a 1-0 lead. But the Grizzlies got the rest, including three in the first half and two more in the second.
“We play competitively most of the time but we have some games where we let down a little bit and Newport was one of them,” head coach Zane Higgins said.
Newport outshot Medical Lake 18-8.
At Freeman, the Scotties got goals in each half from Lindsay Balkenbush, her first in the 32nd minute was the eventual game winner. Freeman led 2-0 at the half and Medical Lake stayed within striking distance through much of the second half until an Alisa Miller goal in the 51st minute opened the gates. Freeman had a 20-10 edge in shots on goal.
“We were fighting with them the whole game,” Higgins said. “I’m happy with the way we played, we’re just not getting goals.”
Hanging by a string going into the week’s play as far as playoffs were concerned, the Cardinals saw that turn to a thread by the Freeman match.
“We still have a shot, we have to win, and hopefully Colville loses, that would put us in,” Higgins said.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
Reader Comments(0)