WINNEMUCCA - A year of frustratingly close matches that have ended either in ties or losses, continued for the Lowry High School girls soccer team Tuesday as it concluded its home schedule against Spring Creek.
It was a bit of déjà vu from last year, as the Lady Bucks scored late in the match, only to see the Spartans score in the final minute to rescue a 1-1 tie.
"We got a goal off a good shot by Kelse (Diehl) in the back of the net and it pumped us up big time," said LHS head coach Chris Entwistle. "We started playing defensively, holding the ball and were still getting scoring opportunities. Then they get a ball through our defense, it goes off a couple players, our goalie comes out to play the ball, it goes off another couple of players and finds a way into the net."
The match was scoreless through the first 40 minutes, as both teams were still able to get off good scoring chances. The strong defensive play continued through the second half, when Allison Walker got off a pass to Diehl in the 70th minute, who scored the first goal of the game. The Spartans then scored the equalizing goal with about 30 seconds to play.
"It was just like Spring Creek last year," Entwistle said. "It is just so frustrating right now for the girls. It was just a prefect time for a Spring Creek goal and a perfect time for the match to be over. The girls are completely devastated. It has been a number of years since we have beaten Spring Creek and two years in a row we are leading 1-0 and they score in the final minute. We have had so many frustrating games this year, where we had chances to win and just came up short."
With the tie, Lowry is one point behind Fernley for the fourth and final playoff spot and three in front of White Pine. The Vaqueros have one match left with White Pine on Saturday. If the Lady Bobcats beat the Vaqueros and the Lady Bucks win their two remaining matches, Lowry makes the playoffs. The Lady Bucks can win their final two matches and still have Fernley win against White Pine and still make the playoffs as well. White Pine and Lowry will be tied if the Lady Bobcats win their final two matches and Lowry splits with Churchill County and Pershing County.
This past weekend, Lowry picked up two wins at home, besting Fernley 2-0 on Friday, Oct. 21, and Yerington 7-1 on Saturday. The Lady Bucks lost to the Vaqueros earlier in the year but shut down the Lyon County school in Winnemucca.
"We had a big heart to heart talk the day before in practice," said the coach. "We came out today and the key was to come out and have fun from whistle to whistle, whether we win or lose or make zone or not. If we play like we did today, we are going to get the results we want. It was by far the best we played offensively and defensively. We put everything together."
Lowry broke a scoreless tie in the 37th minute as Sydnie Sundahl broke free and scored and Walker added an insurance goal in the 79th minute on a corner kick that found the back of the net.
Lowry made it a perfect weekend with its win over Yerington. The Lions kept the score close, trailing just 2-1 at halftime, when the Lady Bucks blew the game open with five goals in the second half.
Johnnie Marin scored twice for Lowry and Irdiana Gonzalez, Ashley DeLaMora, Maddie Mitch, Ashley Lombardi and Sundahl each added one goal.
Lowry closes out the regular season this weekend starting tonight at Churchill County with a 4 p.m., match. The Lady Bucks play at Pershing County Saturday at 1 p.m.
"We are not far from being a strong team in this league," Entwistle said. "We have to go out and play the best we can in these final two matches and hopefully we can get into the playoffs."
[[In-content Ad]]
