The Odessa High girls soccer team ended up sharing the spoils with Lubbock-Cooper as both teams played to a 1-1 draw Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
A scoreless first half was followed by a two-goal second half in which the Pirates took a 1-0 lead off a strike from Bailey Cate before Odessa High equalized off a goal from Tatum Ray.
“I just think the girls came out with a good energy today,” Odessa High head coach Cecilia Kellar said. “We reflected on our weekend. We took some time and reflected on our weekend in Lubbock and looked at film. I thought the girls came out with a good mindset. … I was proud of our fight and focus to stay in the game and get one back. There was a lot of energy at the end and that means you’re into the game and that you’re invested. It was good to see that from our girls.”
The Lady Bronchos moved to 4-3-1 for the season.
Lubbock-Cooper is now 4-6-2.
“In the game of soccer, anything came happen,” Lubbock-Cooper head coach Bridgett Jenkins said. “This Odessa High team is very talented and very quick. They’re very feisty. We are a skillful team. There were opportunities that we should’ve taken. There were missed opportunities. Sometimes they go in the back of the net and sometimes they don’t.”
OHS had corner kick with 15 minutes left in the first half that was saved by Lubbock-Cooper’s goalkeeper Jazlynn Villegas.
Cate crossed a pass to Sienna Bueno for a scoring opportunity but the Lady Pirates were unable to finish and the half ended with both teams scoreless.
The second half would see more scoring chances from both sides.
Odessa High started to control possession more in the second half and a corner kick opportunity with 34 minutes to go was saved by Villegas.
It wasn’t until there were 22 minutes remaining in the game when the Lady Pirates got on the board, thanks to Cate’s goal.
Lubbock-Cooper had an opportunity to double its lead soon after when a free kick was saved by Odessa High goalkeeper Alexia Hernandez.
“Alexia is always stepping up for us,” Kellar said. “Defensively, I thought the back line did a great job as well. They’re always communicating and supporting each other. They’ve gotten better.”
The Lady Bronchos got their equalizer when Ray scored off an assist from Mia Callazo with seven minutes remaining.
“Mia, she assisted me a great ball and I saw an opportunity to take that finish to get that tie,” Ray said. “I think we finished very well with energy and creativity.”
Kellar said the team has been talking about creating chances.
“It was a great finish,” Kellar said of Ray’s goal. “We felt like we’ve been creating some good opportunities for ourselves. We keep telling the girls that we have to keep creating chances. It’ll come and to not get frustrated.”
A late penalty almost saw Lubbock-Cooper take the win, but Cate’s shot would hit the right bar of the goal and Odessa High held on for the draw.
“Bailey’s a phenomenal player,” Jenkins said. “(Her earlier) goal is her bread and butter. She finds the back of the net all the time from that angle. The missed PK was very uncharacteristic, but that’s the game of soccer.”
