Pekin 1, East Peoria 1

EAST PEORIA - The Pekin girls' soccer team broke its scoreless streak in dramatic fashion Friday, finishing in a 1-1 tie in Mid-Illini Conference action at East Peoria.The Dragons were reeling from four straight shutout loses. And after a scoreless first half, the Raiders' Carmon Alvaraz crashed the box to put hosts ahead in the 53rd minute.The score remained 1-0 until the final minute.
“I sent Marissa (McGurr) and Jeleighsa (Hamiltion) up from the back leaving us with just two defenders,” Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. “But, at that point giving up another goal wasn't going to change anything. When Jeleighsa got the ball, I screamed take it all the way - and that's what she did.”

Off a Pekin throw-in, the senior defender dribbled past four East Peoria defenders, turned the corner and found Jakki Johnson open in front of the goal. Johnson's second goal of the season was the equalizer with 43 seconds left.“

This effort was what we missed on Tuesday against Washington,” Sandoval said. “The girls played a heck of a game and didn't give up. It was a tremendous effort.”

Pekin goalkeeper Lindsay Coffey registered 11 saves.