The game between East and Highland's girls' soccer teams was everything a rivalry game should be â tense, tempers flaring and dramatic right to the final minutes. East came away with a 3-2 victory, barely. They led the game at half time but Highland came back in the second half, tying the score and keeping the hope alive. A late goal in the second half by East's Lou Williams brought East back and secured the win.
"We were nervous and emotions were running high. This is our biggest rivalry and we panicked and let them get into our game," East's Sarah Schanky said. "We knew Highland was going to be giving us their best game and we panicked in the second half but ended it the way we wanted."
The first half of the game, it looked like the Leopards would run away with an easy win. Schanky scored both of East's goals, the first in the first three minutes. Skanchy came up with the ball after a Highland corner kick and broke away to race down the field and planted the ball perfectly in the corner of the net. Her second came half way through the first half. Highland was left with two unanswered goals after the first half.
Highland came back in the second half looking like a different team. Using the momentum from a controversial penalty, Highland's Kate Orchard was able to get past East's defense and put Highland on the board. Erin Murphy scored half way through the second half, tying the game and upping the ante.
"The mark of a good team is the ability to come back and fight," Highland coach Lloyd Siegendorf said. "East played all 80 minutes. The second half doesn't cut it; you have to come play all 80 minutes. I think if we had a little more focus and more passion, the results would have been different."
It came down to the last three minutes and Williams' goal sealed Highland's fate. The Rams tried to even the score but couldn't convert their last few opportunities.
"It's like everything you've worked for is thrown away when they score at the end like that, its devastating but we'll come back," Highland's Meg Green said.
