GIRLS SOCCER: Odessa High’s second-half outburst seals victory over Midland Lee

The Odessa High girls soccer team carried a lead into halftime and wanted more.

Though in front on the scoreboard, the Lady Bronchos needed to find a way to leave no doubt about the final outcome after a sluggish first half against visiting Midland Lee.

Odessa High unleashed a second-half barrage that did exactly that, scoring five goals in the final 40 minutes to finish a 7-0 victory against the Lady Rebels in District 2-6A play Tuesday night at Ratliff Stadium.

Four different Lady Bronchos scored in the game with Miranda Cardona, Alondra Venegas and Cameron Rodriguez each tallying twice and Malarie Ramirez adding a goal.

Odessa High head coach Cecilia Kellar rotated players throughout the game to find what combinations worked best. From the offensive outburst, she has several quality pieces at her disposal.

“One of the good things about our group is that we have a lot of players who are effective in multiple positions so we’re able to utilize them throughout the field and I think that’s something that really benefits our team and makes us a lot stronger as a team,” Kellar said.

Within the first six minutes of the second half, Odessa High (12-5-0 overall, 2-1-1-0 district, eight points) had increased its lead from two to four on goals from Rodriguez and Venegas.

Even with the commanding lead, the Lady Bronchos didn’t let up. More goals from Venegas and Rodriguez brought Odessa High’s lead to a half dozen, before Ramirez capped the game off with the contest’s final tally with eight minutes left in the game, keeping Midland Lee (8-6-1, 0-3-1-0, two points) winless in district play.

“I didn’t think it was going in, because it was such an awkward hit, it was an awkward run from the beginning so I knew I had to shoot because I haven’t been so much this season,” Ramirez said about her goal. “Kellar’s talked with me about that so I knew I had to show up tonight and I took a hit and it went in.

“It was exciting, it was uplifting and I think that was good and I think I’ll take that into the next game.”

Those five second-half goals are quite a contrast from how Odessa High played in the first half as well as its last game on Friday against Permian.

“I think we were a little slow in our pace of place there at the beginning,” Kellar said. “I think we came out with not enough urgency and that’s something that we’ve been talking about — that urgency to put games away, to really not put yourself in a situation where you have to fight or put yourself in a situation that you’re behind.”

Although Odessa High earned five points from those games, Kellar feels her team’s best is still in front of it.

The Lady Bronchos will also have solace in how they responded from Kellar’s halftime talk where she addressed how they could be doing better.

“I think it helped us find combinations that worked and find plays that worked together and who we work well with,” Ramirez said about the team’s play.