Perhaps it was the post-graduation feeling, or possibly the truth that it was a really Monday-feeling Tuesday following a protracted weekend. No matter it was, the Steamboat Springs Excessive College women soccer crew was not itself.
The Sailors gave away the ball and spent extra time defending than producing scoring probabilities, permitting Battle Mountain to turn out to be the primary crew to defeat the Sailors all season with a 2-1 victory from Gardner Discipline.
“We type of simply began out on the unsuitable foot,” Gwyn Jamison mentioned. “We’ve had a reasonably profitable season, and our egos weren’t too massive, however they weren’t sufficiently small, I ought to say. We have been just a bit nervous.”
After the sport, because the solemn Sailors gathered, a Battle Mountain coach came to visit and wished the crew good luck within the playoffs.
“You’re a a lot better crew than that rating signifies,” he mentioned.
Battle Mountain and Steamboat went into the second half tied at one purpose every.
Within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Sailors senior Jaelie Hovey had a pair of scoring probabilities. For the primary, she approached the purpose from the precise facet, then booted an arcing move to a teammate, however the ball floated up and out of bounds. A couple of minutes later, Hovey bought a by ball from the midfield. She beat her defender in entrance of the purpose and took a shot. The Husky keeper was there, however the ball bounced free. Darby Martinez collected the rebound and handed sideways to Ellory Hodges, who fired on purpose, however the shot drifted extensive.
Hovey held her fingers to her head in disbelief.
With 22 minutes left on the clock, Bohlman despatched in junior keeper Sam Campbell. Simply three minutes later, the Huskies put their first shot on Campbell. The Sailor stood in opposition to the submit, awaiting the shot, which squeezed by her because it rang off the submit. Battle Mountain led 2-1.
With lower than 5 minutes to play, Steamboat elevated the tempo and performed with a way of urgency. They spent extra time pressuring the Battle Mountain protection, however no shot went in.
The Huskies got here into the sport 2-2-2 however confirmed up with vitality and dedication. Steamboat’s touches at all times appeared to discover a Husky participant. Battle Mountain wished to be the primary to steal a sport from the Sailors.
“They gave us an setting that we haven’t actually seen this season,” head coach Rob Bohlman mentioned. “They’re excessive stress. The way in which they pressed gave us little or no time and area to play the ball. We by no means fairly tailored to that.”
Steamboat was spending extra time in its defensive finish than anyplace else. On an offensive alternative, Reina Bombierski was tripped within the field, drawing a penalty kick. Jamison took the kick and aimed left. The Huskies goalie watched helplessly because the purpose gave Steamboat a 1-0 lead with 18:37 left to play.
Because the clock ticked previous 11:00, Battle Mountain senior Gabby Caballero superior up the sphere. Steamboat keeper Josey Foote rushed the ball. The transfer wasn’t uncommon for Foote. She’s usually an aggressive goalie and is assured in her skill to win the ball in opposition to an approaching participant.
This time, the Huskies participant gained out. The ball bounced off Foote’s chest and again to Caballero, who tapped the ball over a falling Foote and into the web.
The loss could conclude an opportunity at an ideal season, however it gained’t finish the rest. Steamboat continues to be one of many top ranked 4A teams based mostly on RPI and, until one thing drastic occurs, may have a spot within the 16-team playoff bracket.
“We simply transfer on from right here,” Jamison mentioned. “Like Rob was speaking about, now we have an hour to really feel dangerous and mad about it, after which we transfer on and hold bettering.”
Battle Mountain 2, Steamboat Springs 1
BM 1 1 – 2
SS 1 0 – 1
To achieve Shelby Reardon, name 970-871-4253, e-mail [email protected] or observe her on Twitter @ByShelbyReardon.
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