Head coach Brian Carlson and the Bruin girls varsity soccer team traveled to Medford Tuesday afternoon to face the only team that handed them a loss during the regular season, the St. Mary’s Lady Crusaders, in the first round of post season play.
Coach Carlson drew up a defensive plan that focused on keeping the Lady Crusaders off the scoreboard, while attacking and taking advantage of their scoring opportunities developed from defensive stops.
Sophomore striker, #12, Sawyer Adams rose to the occasion first, breaking down the St. Mary’s defense after receiving a pass from sophomore forward Kaiya Evans, beating the St. Mary’s keeper at the 23 minute mark of the first half, giving the Bruin girls a 1-0 lead at the half time break.
After half-time adjustments, the Bruin girls came out in the second half determined to keep the Lady Crusaders playing defense, attempting to avoid going down another goal to the Bruin girls. But, the Bruin girls again put together another offensive attack, starting with a pass from junior center midfielder, #11, Ellie Hanneman that senior Avery Hodge, #7, would put behind the St. Mary’s keeper from the top of the penalty box just six minutes into the second half of play, to give the Bruin girls a 2-0 lead.
Now trailing 0-2, the Lady Crusaders needed to get on the scoreboard as the Bruin girls settled in to an even more defensive posture controlling second half play with a two goal lead. However, this opened up the St. Mary’s half of the field as the Lady Crusaders sold out on offense, giving striker Sawyer Adams, #12, another opportunity, dribbling through the Lady Crusaders midfield to hit a shot over the St. Mary’s keeper to give the Bruin girls a more comfortable 3-0 lead with just 20 minutes left to play.
The Bruin girls then withstood a determined St. Mary’s onslaught as the Lady Crusaders desperately needed a goal if they had any chance, scoring just minutes after the Bruin girls third goal, getting the Lady Crusaders on the board 1-3.
The Lady Crusader’s continued their desperate shot at a comeback victory, but the Bruin girls defense came up big, turning away numerous St. Mary’s offensive attacks, however, the Lady Crusaders would get another goal to make the score 2-3 Bruin girls with just minutes left in the contest.
St. Mary’s would continue its desperate attempts, pushing the game in front of the Bruin girls goal that would be turned away by the Bruin girls defense in the final minutes to stun the undefeated Lady Crusaders and take home the 3-2 win, extending their season into the next round of the play-offs.
“The girls executed our game plan very well. The offense took advantage of its opportunities.” coach Carlson told the Compass after the game. “To hold a high powered team like St. Mary’s scoreless for 60 minutes is an accomplishment in itself. This is a really well earned team win.”
The Bruin girls season continues this Saturday as they make the almost six hour drive traveling to Amity, to challenge the 8-0, #2 OSAA ranked, Amity Lady Warriors, in a quarter-final match up Saturday, November 8th.
