A girls soccer matchup this season between St. Clair and Sullivan has proven to be about as evenly matched as it could get.
The Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Eagles have met three times this season, resulting in one win for each team along with a tie.
Playing at St. Clair High School on Tuesday, the two teams decided their contest on the second round of penalty kicks, where Sullivan escaped with a victory.
“We match up well with Sullivan and it’s always a very competitive game with them. We tied them our first game of the year at the Warrenton Tournament. We won at their place and they won at our place,” said St. Clair Head Coach Ted Koenigsfeld. “We might see them again for a fourth time in the district tournament, which would decide our season series.”
The game Tuesday was scoreless after 100 minutes, 80 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute sudden death overtime sessions.
Both teams converted three of five opportunities in the first round of penalty kicks.
Scoring for St. Clair were Danni Krouper, Nicole Nardi and Tori Martin.
“We were ahead 2-1 and 3-2 in the first round of PKs, but they came back and tied it up both times,” Koenigsfeld said.
In the sudden death second round, the Lady Bulldogs missed their first shot and Sullivan converted, giving the Lady Eagles the win.
Sam Deason played the entire game in goal for St. Clair.
Sullivan controlled much of the play in the first half.
“We played a disappointing first half. All of the things we worked on at practice and talked about before the game weren’t happening,” Koenigsfeld said. “We talked at halftime about the adjustments that needed to be made. The 50-50 balls and the shots on goal were in their favor. Those are two areas that help you win games. The girls realized they weren’t doing a good enough job.”
St. Clair was able to turn things around during the second half and overtime.
“Danni Krouper and Heather Pendegraft played well throughout the game. Bree Anderson and Crystin Brand stepped up and did a phenomenal job in the second half and overtime,” Koenigsfeld said. “We had a couple of great fast breaks that we couldn’t convert. Sullivan’s No. 6 (Sierra Fuchs) is a heck of a sweeper who is very fast. We had trouble getting around her in the first half, but did a better job in the second half. We worked the ball down the wing and were able to move around her at times.”
St. Clair has four games on the schedule next week.
The Lady Bulldogs have Four Rivers Conference contests Monday at home against St. James and Tuesday at Pacific, host Belle Thursday, May 3, for senior night and travel to Seckman Friday, May 4.
“Right now, we’re tied for the most wins we’ve ever had. We’re trying to overcome that hurdle to get that sixth win,” Koenigsfeld said. “Six wins isn’t a lot for some programs, but it’s progress for us.”
