DONNELLSON – Central Lee Head Coach Antonio Estrada could hardly contain himself Tuesday night in his post-game speech.
The usually docile and low-keyed Estrada told his Lady Hawks to celebrate the right way after knocking off Burlington Notre Dame 2-1 in SEI Superconference girls' soccer action at Central Lee.
“This is huge because Notre Dame is always on top. They usually kick the crap out of us – mercy rule,” Estrada said after the game. “This is a great win for our program. I’m excited for these girls and I’m excited for our program.”
Central Lee’s Adi Robinson unofficially had six saves on the night in her first full year in the net. Ellie Lake had two goals for the Hawks – one in the first half at the 15-minute mark and the other game-winner on a shot off a breakaway behind the Nike defense and punch to the left side of the net under Notre Dame’s diving keeper Yazmine Sorenson.
The Nikes would get three more shots on goal among six shots after that Lake goal, but Robinson fended four off while two sailed high.
The most dramatic goal of the night came to open the scoring about halfway through the first period. A corner kick sailed into the box and got bounced out to junior Bella Tweedy, who took the ball off her forehead and sent it into the right side of the net for what Estrada said was the first header for a goal he could remember at Central Lee.
“That was unbelievable. Amazing. We’re growing as a program and no longer a bottom-feeder,” Estrada said.
After Tweedy’s header the Nikes responded with a goal on their next possession at 18:58. They would get another shot a minute and a half later that Robinson was able to push away. Then Lake would score to give the Hawks the lead again and, for the remaining 15 minutes of the first half, it looked like Central Lee was going to go into the half up by one. However, a push in the final 10 seconds resulted in a shot from Notre Dame midfielder Hadley Augustine who hit a perfect shot at the horn that just got over Robinson’s hands to tie things up.
Lake would open the second period with her breakaway goal and that would set the final score. Lake had a third goal nullified at the 15:38 mark of the second half when she was called for pushing off in the box.
Estrada said the Hawks have been getting better and better the past week.
“We lost to Mediapolis 2-0 on Thursday, but I thought after that game that was the best we’ve played and we should have won that game. But then we beat Canton last night and I thought that was our best game. This game was a good game, I don’t necessarily think it was our best game because they are so good and they know how to move the ball in space, but this was a really good game for us.”
Robinson said she was scared they would have another buzzer-beater like they had in the first half as Notre Dame kept pushing during the final three minutes.
“I’ve never played soccer with Central Lee before. But in the past years I’ve played club ball so I’ve played soccer, but I’ve played a lot of soccer just not in school,” Robinson said.
“I want the ball, I’ll get down for it and I saved a lot of balls that I didn’t think I would be able to save. I just went for them.”
She said she has a lot of confidence in the Hawks' defense to clear the ball and not let them shoot.
“Our strategy is to just clear the ball. We don’t want to let them shoot. But if they do, I just try to get in the right position and take care of the corners,” the junior said.
The Hawks improve to 3-1 in the SEI Superconference and 6-3 overall. They travel to Mid-Prairie for a makeup match on Thursday.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here