WINNEMUCCA - It may only be two weeks into the season, but the Lowry High School varsity girls soccer team has answered some early questions after replacing more than half its squad fromn a season ago.
The Lady Bucks remained undefeated on the year with an 8-0 non-conference win over Battle Mountain on Wednesday afternoon in Winnemucca. Lowry scored seven goals in the first 35 minutes of play and cruised to the victory from there.
"We jumped on them quickly and the girls' shots were on target," said LHS head coach Chris Entwistle. "We possessed the ball well and we played aggressive off the get go."
Freshman Kenadee Jeppsen scored four minutes into the contest on a shot from the left side of the field that got past the Battle Mountain goalie. That turned out to be the only goal the Lady Bucks would need.
However, Lowry quickly added to its total as junior Monique Rodriguez added goals in the seventh and 11th minutes. The first score came on a breakaway with Rodriguez by herself.
Lowry picked up another goal from a freshman, as Audrey Snow connected in the 15th minute with a shot to the corner of the net.
Alyssa Jones made the score 5-0 with a goal in the 26th minute and a pair of seniors got into the scoring act near the end of the first half with Bertha Solis and Cindy Bravo making the score 7-0.
With the outcome not in doubt, Lowry changed up its offense in the second half to a more ball control style. The Lady Bucks used a majority of the final 40 minutes to work on crosses across the middle of the field.
"We wanted to work on some tactical aspects of the game that we have been doing in practice," Entwistle said. "For the most part I thought we did that. We were thankful that Battle Mountain came down to play. They are trying to improve their program and they have a good coach that cares about the girls. It was a great opportunity for us to play all of our girls."
Lowry scored its final goal in the 76th minute when Jones popped a shot from about 25 yards out from the side of the net that found the top corner.
"It was a great goal," added the coach. "She had no angle for a shot but found a way to put it in. I am hoping for a few more of those shots for when we are playing Spring Creek and Elko."
Lowry opened its season last weekend at the Spring Creek Jamboree. The Lady Bucks went 2-0-1 over the two days, beginning with a 1-1 tie against Jerome, Idaho, on Friday, Aug. 30. Lowry defeated Battle Mountain 9-0 and White Pine 2-1 on Saturday.
Against Jerome, Rodriguez scored 45 seconds into the match to give Lowry a 1-0 advantage, but the Lady Bucks could not find the back of the net after that.
"It was a great way to open the season against a good team," Entwistle added. "But it was also disappointing. We had our chances to score five or six goals. We had quite a few breakaway chances that we didn't finish. It might have been those first game jitters. But when you are running full pace and have girls chasing you down and breathing in your ear, it's a big stress. There will always be some hiccups in that first game back."
The Lady Bucks out-shot Jerome 7-3, with the Tigers scoring their only goal on a shot from about 35 yards out.
"Defense was our one concern coming into this year," said the coach. "That was not a problem. The girls came in and stepped up. Jerome really had no opportunities inside the box. We had a couple formation issues to fix and we did that. Megan (Lombardi) played very well in the goal for us."
In the victory over Battle Mountain on Saturday, it took Lowry 12 minutes to score, but once the first shot went in, eight more followed. The Lady Bucks led 5-0 at halftime and added four more goals in the second half.
Rodriguez recorded a hat trick with her three goals and Snow added two more. Ashley McKinnon, Bravo, Jeppsen and Jones each had one goal. Rodriguez also had three assists.
"It actually took us a while to get going," Entwistle said. "They played good defense against us. I think the girls were just excited and wanted to get an early lead. Once we settled down we were OK."
In the tournament finale against White Pine, Rodriguez put the Lady Bucks up 1-0 in the first half. Lowry held the advantage until midway through the second half, when the Bobcats' Taiuni Brewster scored from about 25 yards out. Lombardi got a hand on the ball and stopped the shot, but the ball bounced off Lombardi's other hand and into the net.
White Pine had an opportunity to take the lead, but missed a penalty kick, opening the door for Lowry.
In the final seconds of the match, Snow crossed the ball to Jones, who played it off her chest and volleyed the ball into the goal for the victory.
"It was a nice play by both girls," added the coach. "Alyssa was able to get by the fingertips of the goalie. I think it gives the girls confidence that they can play against good teams. Even though White Pine is Division III, they are a tough program."
Lowry opens Division I-A play on Saturday with a trip to Truckee for a 1 p.m. start.
"We jump into the fire quickly," Entwistle said. "Defensively, I think we will be OK. We just need to find a way to score."
[[In-content Ad]]
