Pekin 7, Woodruff 0

PEKIN - The Pekin girls soccer team suffered through another slow start, but turned it on in the second half en route to a 7-0 win over Woodruff Friday in the opening match of the Pekin Invitational.

The Warriors' defense held strong early, keeping the Dragons off the scoreboard until 18 minutes in. Lindsay Coffey sent home a pass from Allie Zuercher right in front of the Woodruff goal for the only score of the half. It was the first of three assists for the junior midfielder.

“We had plenty of chances, but we just weren't finishing,” said Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval.

The offensive floodgates opened in the second half for the Dragons.

Zuercher found Emily LaBanca, playing just her second game of the season, for another goal just 89 seconds into the second half. Leading scorer Shawna Swisher got into the act, scoring two goals in a six-minute span.

Seniors Michelle Feicke and Darsie Hacker and freshman Hayley Brienen scored their first goals of the season to close out the scoring.

“I think our girls were fired up after missing so many shots in the first half,” Sandoval said. “Hopefully we can keep it up on Saturday.”

Freshman goalkeeper Morgan Lynn recorded her first career shutout.

Lincoln 5, Sterling 0

In the second game of the Pekin Invitational, Lincoln looked like a team with something to prove. The Railsplitters tied Sterling 1-1 in their opening match last year, but this year's rematch was a much different story, with Lincoln coming out on top, 5-0.

Lincoln got on the board just 43 seconds into the game when the school's all-time leading scorer, Beth Rayman, put the ball in the back of the net. Rayman finished with a hat trick and two assists.

Emily Bergiln and Audra Krusz accounted for the other goals for Lincoln.

The Invitional wraps up with a four-game schedule today at Coal Miners Park, starting with Pekin vs. Sterling at 9 a.m.