ROCKY POINT – Heide Trask edged East Bladen 2-1 Tuesday night in a battle for the top spot in the Waccamaw Conference girls’ soccer standings.
East Bladen, now 6-1 in league play and 8-1-1 overall, will host Trask Friday night. Trask is 3-0 in Waccamaw play and 7-5-1 overall.
“Tough result but that’s soccer,” said East Bladen Coach Jay Raynor. “The game has been good to us and we have been getting the right bounces… tonight things didn’t bounce our way. Our girls played well and put forth a winning effort. It just wasn’t our night.”
Raynor continued, “Trask scored on two set pieces. From a corner kick in the first half that was curled into the back of the net (an olimpico) and a free kick from distance midway the second half. Trask made the most of their set pieces and we didn’t capitalize on ours.”
“I take full responsibility for the loss,” added Raynor. “We did not come out strong initially. Their game plan was the opposite of what I thought they would do. We beat them 2-0 in a scrimmage at the first of the season. I went with that lineup and with adding pieces to that, I thought that gave us the best chance to be successful.”
With Trask up 1-0 East Bladen earned a free kick from 7 yards out in the box. “I knew that was going to tie the game at 1-1,” said Raynor. “We were set up right in the middle of the goal and they blocked the kick. There was confusion as to it being a PK as there was some contact and bodies on the ground. We are good in those situations and score that 9/10 times… I think the confusion thought of a PK, caused us not to play fast and take advantage of the open net.”
“I love the way we responded after going down 0-2,” stated Raynor. “We could have easily thrown in the towel. Our girls ramped it up. Things weren’t going our way and that second goal challenged us in many ways. We went down on the kickoff and immediately got the goal back and made it 1-2. Great goal and team effort to push and go get it in that moment.”
Raynor concluded, “If we start the game the way we finished it, I believe the result would’ve been different. Proud of the girls. We have only given up 5 goals all season. 2 of those being in the run of play and 3 from set pieces. It is evident we need to limit giving up set pieces. I need to do a better job preparing our girls to deal with attacking and defending set pieces. The goals that the girls have for the season are all still in position to be earned.”
Trask led 1-0 at halftime. Junior Jackie Medina Leal knocked in the East Bladen goal in the 2nd half.
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