Head coach Brian Carlson and the varsity Bruin girls were home after being on the road last Thursday in Grants Pass, defeating the Lady Knights, hosting the 5-1-1 Rogue River Lady Chieftains in a battle at the top of the league standings.
The Bruin girls opened cautiously, as both teams tested the other early, settling into a ball control game in the middle of the field.
Rogue River executed a defensive gameplan that proved to be very good at stopping the Bruin girls offensive attacks down the wings and up the middle, keeping play in front of them and denying any open shots.
But the Bruin girls were relentless, pushing into the Lady Chieftains half of the field creating multiple scoring opportunities through out the half.
Late in the first half, the persistent Bruin girls offense would send #24, sophomore forward Kaiya Evans down the right sideline, pushing the ball into the center of the goal box where sophomore striker, #12, Sawyer Adams would push the ball past the Rogue River keeper 36:00 minutes into the first half, to take a 1-0 lead at the half.
The Lady Chieftains started the second half determined to even the score, but the Bruin girls defense stood their ground, pushing away multiple attacks in front of their own goal before establishing control and moving play back into Rogue River’s half of the field putting pressure in front of the Lady Chieftains goal.
It would take multiple scoring opportunities and 31:00 minutes of offensive pressure before the stress would force a Lady Chieftains foul that would give the Bruin girls a direct free-kick at the top edge of the box. Junior center midfielder, #11, Ellie Hanneman made quick work of the free kick, finding the back of the net to give the Bruin girls a 2-0 lead.
The Bruin girls defense held off a desperate Lady Chieftains attack late to take the 2-0 win.
The Bruin girls will be on the road traveling to Medford to challenge a very strong St. Mary’s Crusader team with kick-off scheduled for 4:00pm.
