WINNEMUCCA - Coming off an 11-0 rout of Battle Mountain three days earlier, the Lowry High School varsity girls soccer team was looking to keep that momentum going, with thoughts of a win over rival Elko.
The Indians are the Division state I-A runner-up from a season ago and remain one of the top schools in the league. There would be no upset as Elko used its physical style of play to control the ball, defeating Lowry 4-0 in Winnemucca on Saturday.
"It was a physical game and we knew it would be," said LHS head coach Chris Entwistle. "We didn't back down from them. I thought the game went well but not as well as we wanted it to. We had a couple of chances to keep the game closer than it was."
Elko opened the scoring in the 12th minute on a shot from about 25 yards out that went into the top corner of the net, just above the hands of Lowry goalkeeper Savannah Ingram.
Just one minute later, the Lady Bucks had an opportunity to tie the game on a direct kick by Allison Walker, but Elko goalkeeper Raelynn Forcella made a nice save near the cross bar, with the ball bouncing off her head.
"It was an excellent direct kick by Allison and the Elko goalkeeper took it in the face," Entwistle said. "She made a great save. It could have been a 1-1 game and the momentum would have been different. Momentum is an incredible thing in this game."
Instead of a tie game, Elko quickly reacted and scored 60 seconds later for a 2-0 advantage. Ingram came out to play the ball and the Indians were able to find the open net for the goal.
Lowry had another opportunity to score in the 35th minute on another direct kick by Walker but her shot went to the right of the goal.
The Indians added two goals in the second half - the first in the 49th minute off a rebound after a missed shot and the second in the 67th minute on a corner kick.
Lowry (3-6-3 overall, 1-5-1 Division I-A North, 1-1 Ruby Mountain) played with minimal subs on the day and lost one of its top defenders in the second half. Rikki Hamilton collided heads with another player, she did not play for the final 20 minutes.
The Lady Bucks had two scoring chances late in the game but Monique Rodriguez and Walker could not capitalize on their shots.
"Elko is a good team but I think we can beat them," Entwistle said. "We just need to take advantage of some of their weaknesses."
Lowry travels to Spring Creek today for a 3 p.m. match with the Lady Spartans.
"It is a long season and we still have eight games left to play," Entwistle said. "We have to beat Spring Creek on Tuesday if we want to get to where we want to be."
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