After starting the season with growing pains with a new roster and coach, the Lowry High School girls soccer team is beginning to make strides on the field.
The Lady Bucks picked up their first point in the Northern 3A last weekend against Sparks and earned a 1-1 tie on Tuesday against Churchill County in Winnemucca. The Greenwave won the first meeting 8-0 in Fallon.
“It was right there for the taking,” said first-year LHS head coach Misty Stene. “We had 20 shots on goal and controlled possession for much of the game. I am very happy with the girls. They beat us 8-0 last time. I am thrilled with the improvement from the girls. We are on an upswing and I am excited.”
Lowry pressured Churchill County from the start, with a number of scoring chances early on and took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute of a goal by Kelcey Cooper. The senior connected on kick from about 25 yards out that got above the Churchill County goalie.
The Lady Bucks had other scoring opportunities in the final 30 minutes of the first half but could not convert on them.
Lowry maintained its one-goal advantage until the 50th minute, when the Greenwave made their way through the Lady Bucks’ defense and connected on a shot from the middle of the box.
“We had one breakdown on defense and that is what hurt us,” Stene said. “They were able to take advantage of it.”
Lowry got good looks at goal from Bailee Brinkerhoff, Julianna Gonzalez, Emily Backus, Kenzi Dowd-Smith and Cooper in the second half, but could not find the game-winning goal.
Lowry (0-11-2) makes its final road trip of the season this weekend. Lowry played Incline on Friday and results were not available at press time. The Lady Bucks travel to South Tahoe on Saturday for a noon start.
Lowry is back home Tuesday to face Spring Creek at 4 p.m.
South Tahoe leads the Northern 3A 'A" division at 11-0-2, while Truckee is second at 9-2-2.
North Tahoe sits in third place at 6-2-6 and Incline and Spring Creek are tied fourth at 5-5-3. North Valleys 5-7-1 is sixth.
The top five teams from the Northern 3A 'A' division and top three teams in the Northern 3A 'B' division advance to the Northern 3A Regional Championships in Fallon on Nov. 7-9.
“We are going to get there,” Stene said. “We have come a long way. We just need to play hard and keep improving in these final couple weeks.”
