Blackburn Disappoints Eutectics with Second Half Win

(Photo credit Moctar Keita)

ST. LOUIS, MO - For their second game of the season, the Eutectic women's soccer team hosted the Blackburn College Beavers (Ill.) on Sunday night at Creve Coeur Soccer Park in St. Louis. After a heartbreaking 4-3 loss in the season-opener against Illinois College on Thursday, the Eutectics were looking for their first win of the season against the Beavers, who arrived with a 1-1-0 record and returned home at 2-1-0.

The Eutectics took control early on, getting four shots off in the first 10 minutes, allowing only one shot from Blackburn. Despite plenty of opportunities for the UHSP offense, however, the Euts could not seem to find the net, requiring only two saves by Beaver Goalkeeper Sofia Faro on 10 shots in the first 30 minutes.

With just over 13 minutes left in the half, Lindsay English lofted the ball from the midfield line to Taliyah Parker about 20 yards from the Blackburn goal on the left side to set up an attack. Parker dribbled around a defender to set up a shot from just outside the left-side goal area, then blasted the ball past Faro into the right side of the net and put UHSP up 1-0.

The Eutectics would take four more shots before halftime, outshooting the Beavers 15-4. The score remained 1-0 heading into the second period.

The Eutectic offense continued to pressure the Beavers at the start of the second half, taking four shots in the first six minutes. But, the Beavers took full advantage of their first opportunity at the Eutectic goal. In the 54^th minute, Libby Adams beat a Eutectic defender to gain possession within the left side of the UHSP penalty area, then shot from a wide angle from just three yards out, past UHSP goalie Zoe Dixon, and into the net on the far right to even the score.

The Eutectics offense continued to blast shots toward the Blackburn goal, but Faro was able to position herself in front of all six that were on-goal in the half to keep the score tied at 1-1.

With only 2:20 left in the game, Adams sent a dangerous pass sailing to the front of the UHSP goal area. The ball went off the gloves of advancing goalkeeper Emily Sitkowski and into striking range for Jada Lurry, who buried the ball in the net from five feet out.  

Down 2-1, the Eutectics fought hard, but were unable to even the score in the final two minutes of play and were forced to accept the disappointing 2-1 defeat as the buzzer sounded.

The loss puts the Eutectics at 0-2 for the season so far.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the UHSP team will host Principia College (Ill.) at 7 p.m. at Maplewood High School.