October 1, 2008

Lady Tiger soccer holds off Garden City 2-1

In what looked to be a high scoring contest Tuesday night at the Cowley College Soccer Complex, Cowley and Garden City combined to score three goals in the first five minutes of play. However, that would be all the scoring in the game. Luckily for the Lady Tigers, two of those goals belonged to them as they beat the Lady Busters 2-1.

“This was certainly a good win for us, Garden City has a good team,” Cowley head coach Roberto Dos Santos said.

Garden City’s Melvi Ojeda got the scoring started quickly as she took advantage of a defensive breakdown by the Lady Tigers to put the Lady Busters on top 1-0 just 1:19 into the game.

Just 1:17 later, Cowley tied the game at 1-1 as Carol Rodrigues made a terrific centering pass to Amber Hernandez, who beat Garden City goalie Carrie Hart with her 21st goal of the season.

Less than two minutes later Rodrigues set up another goal as she dribbled past the defense, drawing Hart out of the goal, and passed to Monica Vega for the go-ahead score. The goal was Vega’s first of the season.

“The key was how we reacted to that first goal,” Dos Santos said. “We went on offense right away and took the momentum away from them.”

With three goals scored in the first 4:51 of play, it appeared the game would be a shootout. However, Cowley did a good job of controlling the game and protecting its lead.

“Along with her two assists, Carol played a key role in the midfield in marking some of the playmakers Garden City has,” Dos Santos said.

Lady Tiger goalkeeper Carly Budd stopped six of the seven shots she faced as the victory improves Cowley’s record to 5-5 on the season. Garden City falls to 3-5.

The Lady Tigers will play at Northeastern Oklahoma Friday at 2 p.m. NEO is in its first year as a soccer program as well.