Girls soccer: Tigers best Indians, 2-1, in rematch
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COCOLAMUS — On Thursday night at East Juniata High School the rivalry continued as the Juniata girls soccer team traveled to East Juniata for the second game in their season series. In the first contest, East Juniata notched the win, shutting out the Lady Indians, 5-0.
The Lady Tigers were looking for the season sweep while the Indians looked to even the score.
In the end, it would be the East Juniata squad that would take home the victory, 2-1.
With that the Tigers also took the season sweep.
"First off, kudos to Juniata, Ellie and her team. They play with intensity. They played hard. And they very easily could have won that game. They play great," said East Juniata coach Brian Robinson. "We’re lucky to have won that game tonight."
The Tigers started the game with a bang when Cali Wagner posted an unassisted goal, just seconds into the first stanza at 39:38.
Early on, East Juniata controlled the momentum by cutting off the field. Despite numerous shots by the Tigers, Juniata's defense led by goalie Yaa Serwaa contained things as the game dropped under the 25-minute mark.
But at 22:55 East Juniata found its way to another goal when Brianna Brubaker plastered an unassisted goal at the middle top of the box.
Defenses took over again. But the field started to change with the Indians now pushing it down into Tigers territory. Their first shot hit the side bar and out, just missing its first goal.
But Juniata got on the scoreboard when Silvia Brubaker hit the horizontal bar and in for the unassisted goal at 10:17 left in the first.
"We played them (East Juniata) last week. It’s kind of rare that we play them this soon within a week and a half. So we’ve been really getting on them," said Juniata coach Ellie Shepps. "We didn’t have the outcome that we wanted last time. We did play the soccer that we wanted to last time, so today was a way to kind of rewrite that story, and, you know, work hard to show that we are better soccer players than we were maybe last week. I’m just super proud of the girls."
Juniata continued to pressure the Tigers end but East Juniata goalie Riley Apple kept the score to a 2-1 contest going into the intermission.
In the second half, it would be a defensive showdown.
Both teams clamped down on the running lanes and at the nets.
Juniata had a chance to tie midway through the second when a shot by Brubaker hit the horizontal bar and out.
As the clock wound down the intensity increased but both defenses were up for the challenge keeping the score at 2-1.
"The defense played really good tonight. They pulled together, I mean, there’s a lot of pressure… The ball was in front of them," said Robinson. "The last 60 minutes of the game, to be honest. They played well, played as a group. They played well under pressure."
Despite the loss, the Indians coaching staff was proud of their team's effort on the field.
"They’ve been putting in a lot of work. We’ve had some games, we’ve had some weird things because of the weather, where we had to not have practice and then have a game and all that stuff, but just proud of the girls and staying focused and working hard on the things that we’ve been talking about. And then, obviously, putting them into play here tonight, and just seeing them give 100% of their heart out here on the field tonight, I think that’s what had us on the sideline most excited as coaches,” Shepps noted.
The Indians coach added, "Like I said, we came from a bigger loss last week to a super hard fought, close 2-1 loss tonight," said Shepps. "Like I told my girls, they maybe be a little disappointed that they got down early, but please don’t be disappointed at how you played the entirety of the game. I think that’s something to be really proud of. And I know I’m super proud of him as a coach."
Juniata will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Danville while East Juniata travels to Halifax Monday.
East Juniata 2, Juniata 1
JU 1 0 – 1
EJ 2 0 – 2
Scoring
First half
EJ – Cali Wagner unassisted, 39:38.
EJ – Brianna Brubaker unassisted, 22:55.
J – Silvia Brubaker unassisted, 10:17.
Second half
Shots on goal: JU – 11. EJ – 18.
Corners: JU – 2. EJ – 1.
Saves: Yaa Serwaa (Jun) 12, Riley Apple (EJ) 5.