Game 17 - Normal West

Getting ready for the playoff game.

The Pekin girls soccer program’s best season ever came to an end Saturday with an 11-1 loss to Normal West in a first round regional game. Tara Sprague led the way with five goals, two coming in the first six minutes of the game. The Wildcats scored four more to make it 6-0 at halftime.“We tried something different defensively, but missing three of our four starting defenders didn’t make things any easier,” said Dragons’ coach Edgar Sandoval. “We baited them into an offsides call in the opening minutes, but our inexperience with the scheme and their adjustments rendered it ineffective.”Heavy rains and strong winds made it interesting early in the second half. And even though they were down big, the Dragons never gave up. Midway through, Breanna Zimmerman got free on the right side and made great use of the wind. The sophomore transfer blasted a left footed shot all the way across and into the left corner past a stunned Normal West keeper. It was Zimmerman’s team leading 8th goal of the season.“There is a bright side to a tough loss. Our girls never quit and kept up the intensity for 80 minutes. Coach Miller told me after the game that Bree’s goal was the first ever scored by a Pekin girls soccer team in a regional game,” Sandoval added. “And Sam (Grimes) came extremely close to our second on a strong free kick from just inside the midfield circle. Normal West is on par with teams like Richwoods so even just scoring on them is a step in the right direction.”Despite being up 8-1, the Wildcats continued to attack, scoring three more times in the final eight minutes and with the last one coming as the clock ticked down to end the game.“I thought that last one was an especially nice touch,” Sandoval said with just a hint of sarcasm.The loss ended Pekin's three game winning streak and their season. The Dragons finished the year 6-8-3.“I am incredibly excited for next season. We’re returning all eleven starters, nine reserves and losing just one senior. We have several players on JV who will challenge for spots and if there are any incoming freshmen that play with as much heart as Jeleighsa (Hamilton) did for me this year they will be given every opportunity to make the team. My hope is the players continue to play in the off-season. I think we can have similar success next year if they don’t, but I think they can really raise the bar if they work at it the next nine months."