One more time: Dragons expect tough game from Limestone

MORTON - On the surface, it looks like a mismatch.

Pekin (10-6-3), one victory away from tying the team record for victories in a season, faces Limestone (3-11-2) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a semifinal game of the Morton Class AA Regional girls soccer tournament at McClellan Park.

Despite the disparity in the teams' records, Lady Dragons coach Edgar Sandoval and his players aren't taking the Rockets lightly.

Especially after hard-fought 2-1 and 2-0 Pekin victories when the squads met in Mid-Illini Conference competition earlier this spring.

“It's always difficult to beat a team three times in a season, and Limestone will be ready for us,'' Sandoval said. “They know our strengths.''

Limestone's strength is its aggressive play.

“They win a lot of 50-50 balls,'' Sandoval said. “There's no doubt we're a better team when we win those. We can't be lackadaisical about that against Limestone.''

Sandoval says goalie Carli Light and sweeper Rachel Kyle, who can be a factor at both ends of the field, are Limestone's best players.

Pekin counters with top scorers Shawna Swisher (nine goals) and Lauren Cash (four goals), and a sturdy defense led by goalie Lindsay Coffey.

“We have a lot of speed. Shawna, Lauren and Emily LaBanca are dangerous, especially on a big field like they have in Morton,'' Sandoval said. “It wouldn't surprise me if Limestone dropped back a couple of extra defenders.''

Two key Pekin injuries might become a factor in Wednesday's game.

Defender Jessica Allen is out with an illness, and sweeper Marissa McGurr is battling a knee injury suffered on a vicious tackle late in the Lady Dragons' 1-1 tie with East Peoria last week.

Pekin's 2-1 win over Limestone on March 25 was the Lady Dragons' first victory in a season opener in the program's 11-year history.

If Pekin wins Wednesday, it'll make history again by matching the 11 victories racked up by the 2005 squad, which finished 11-7-1.

The winner of the Pekin-Limestone regional semifinal will most likely meet perennial power Morton for the regional championship at 7 p.m. Friday.