Game 6 - Woodruff

PEORIA -- After taking an early 2-0 lead, Pekin was forced to settle for a 2-2 Mid-State 6 Conference tie with host Woodruff in girls' soccer Thursday.Sam Grimes scored on a penalty kick in the right corner after Aimee St. Andre was taken down in the penalty box, then later in the half lofted a shot high into the air and in the goal to make it 2-0."Sam had a terrific game on offense and Jelighesa Hamilton was exceptional at the other end,'' Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. "She shut down virtually every run they made; she controlled the midfield and made great decisions out there.''Woodruff scored off a short corner kick to end the first half scoring, then tied the contest with 10 minutes to go despite being outshot 15-10 by the visitors (2-3-1, 2-2-1)."Sometimes it just happens like that,'' Sandoval said. "We passed as well as we have in any game this season.Pekin next plays at Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Going in, I actually was more hopeful of success vs. Woodruff than I was against Central, having beaten them four times in a row.

Sam came in with extra motivation as she got knocked out of a game against the Warriors the year before on a rough play. Twelve mintues in we were awarded a free kick and same knocked it home to give us a 1-0 lead. Then, twelve minutes later she lofted a shot high into the air and while it wasn't hit well, the goalie misplayed to go up 2-0.

Just before the end of the half we suffered a defensive breakdown that would be one of the few negative themes to our season. Woodruff scored to make it 2-1 and tied it up with a goal in the second half.

We needed some scoring punch. Breanna was one game away from medical clearance and was begging me to put her in. But I didn't want to risk her getting hurt Although we got a bunch of shots towards the end, we were unable to get the go ahead goal and settled for a 2-2 tie.