It was a start that didn’t disappoint the hometown fans for the Lowry High School girls soccer team.
The Lady Bucks made their home debut Wednesday night and started off quickly with four goals in the first half en route to a 5-0 victory over Fernley in the Division I-A North opener for both squads.
“We played well and got off to a great start,” said LHS head coach Melanie Rasor. “We might have gotten a little to comfortable in the second half. But, I think we get a little scared because we get extremely competitive. The girls moved as at unit and did some runs that we have been working with the forwards on.”
Lowry did most of its damage in the early going, starting with a goal in the third minute. Hailey Hinkle crossed a pass to Bailey Sapien, who put the ball in the back of the net.
Three minutes later, Hinkle used her left foot to put a shot in from the left side of the goal from about 15 yards out to put the Lady Bucks up 3-0. In the 14th minute, Caitlynn Cooper converted a penalty kick. Just moments before, Audrey Snow was taken down in the box for the penalty.
McKenna Jones closed out the scoring in the first half in the 28th minute, when she scored from about 10 yards out.
The Lady Bucks had chances in the second half to add on to the lead, but could not convert until late. Cooper and Kenadee Jeppsen left the match with injuries and Lowry switched a number of players on the field.
The closing goal came in the 72nd minute off a throw in by Hinkle and Sapien took the pass and coupled with an error by the Fernley goalie, picked up her second goal of the night.
“We did a good job and got some girls in different positions,” Rasor said. “It’s good for the girls to know different positions on the field. We are stringing passes together much better and we got our forwards making better wins. I liked the way we mentally played.”
Lowry opened the season last weekend at the Spring Creek Jamboree and finished second out of six teams. The Lady Bucks began the tournament with Elko on Friday, Sept. 4, and after a scoreless first half and took a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute. The Indians tied the match in the 71st minute, but five minutes later, Lowry scored the game-winning goal and held on from there.
Snow and Sapien each scored one goal for Lowry and Maddie Mayo had an assist.
In its second game on Sept. 4, Lowry faced Fernley and came away with a 4-1 win. Mayo accounted for half of the goals and also had an assist. Jeppsen and Sapien also scored one goal apiece.
The two wins advanced Lowry to the championship game against Spring Creek on Saturday. The Spartans pulled out the low-scoring contest 1-0.
The Lady Bucks had eight shots on goal, including two each from Jones, Sapien and Mayo, but could not convert a goal.
Lindsay Pate had 12 saves in the match and 18 for the weekend.
“It was a good weekend and we were able to get to the championship,” added the coach. “Even though we lost to Spring Creek, we played well.”
Lowry travels to Fallon on Saturday to face Churchill County at noon.
“It’s a big match and we just want to keep our momentum going and improve,” Rasor said.
Lowry will be back on the road on Friday, Sept. 18, at South Tahoe. The Vikings knocked the Lady Bucks out of the playoffs a season ago.
