SLIDELL — Pine played solid defense, but Salmen broke a 2-2 tie with a goal in the 64th minute, as Lady Raiders came up short in a 3-2 loss on a foggy Wednesday night at Salmen.
“The girls are improving by leaps and bounds,” Pine coach Monty Ingles said. “They are learning to play the game for the first time in their lives. They’re playing as a team. They’re learning to keep their shape (staying in formation as to where the ball is). They’re learning all about the soccer velocity of the game itself, so we’re very proud of them.”
Ingles said his team is very young.
“We’re looking at another two, two and a half years until they come up, but they’re 10-12 years behind most other teams. We’re catching up pretty quickly,” Ingles said.
Salmen had some scoring chances early on, but goalkeeper Hannah Temples and the rest of Pine’s defense did a good job of helping to keep the match scoreless.
The Lady Raiders made the stops payoff in the 11th minute when they took a 1-0 lead.
Breanna Brumfield took a pass from Kelsey Sharp. Brumfield took a shot from the right and her attempt found the back of the net far post.
Salmen tied the match and took the lead before halftime.
The Lady Spartans evened things up on a penalty kick in the 26th minute.
Salmen took the lead four minutes later on a cross to Lylliam Mivlez to make it a 2-1 match at the break.
Pine tied the game, 2-2, in the 10th minute of the second half when Alaska Sullivan’s shot found the back of the net on an assist from Kaitlyn Summerall.
The Lady Raiders had a corner kick opportunity in the 56th minute. The ball was deflected to Pine and eventually cleared by Salmen to keep the score tied, 2-2.
Salmen went in front for good in the 64th minute on a goal by Burke to make it 3-2.
The Lady Raiders were unable to get the equalizer before the final whistle in the one-goal loss.