Morton 3, Pekin 0

Pekin made Morton work, but the Lady Dragons were unable to generate any offense in a 3-0 Mid_illini Conference girls' soccer road loss Saturday. After the Potters’s Amy Unzicker scored a quick goal in the opening minutes, the Dragons defense shut the defending conference champions down for almost 70.

“Marissa McGurr was a ton back there and we got strong defensive performances from Haley Lower, Mallory Dodson and Colleen Quilty," Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. "Based on past history, I think Morton was expecting to blow us out, but our whole team just kept fighting.”

The score remained 1-0 until the 69th minute when Morton finally broke through with goals from Maci Hatch and Megan Reitz.

“I think the second goal took the wind out of our sails and led to that quick third score," Sandoval said. "When you can’t generate any offense, it just puts too much pressure on the back four. Still, of all our games against the top teams in the area, this was by far our best 80-minute defensive effort.”

Pekin keeper Lindsay Coffey had a strong game in goal, saving 15 shots, two short of her career high.

Pekin 2, Limestone 1

PEKIN - For the first time in the 11-year history of the Pekin girls' soccer program, the Lady Dragons started out on a winning note, beating Limestone 2-1 Tuesday in a Mid-Illini Conference match at Coal Miner's Park.

The Dragons took a 1-0 lead about 10 minutes into the game on a throw-in on the right side junior midfielder Colleen Quilty. Shawna Swisher slashed toward the goal and centered the ball to Allie Zuercher who put the ball in the upper left corner of the goal.

Pekin's lead grew to 2-0 about two minutes into the second half. Zuercher's shot was deflected, but Diane Jess followed with a shot, a rebound and a goal.

“This was a great way to start off the season,” Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. “Limestone is a physical team but our girls didn't back down and weren't intimidated at all.

“I was a little worried about Allie tonight. She rolled her ankle pretty good in practice on Monday, but she was in the exact place at the right time and came through. There was no way their keeper was going to get a hand on that shot.”

Freshman goal keeper Morgan Lynn registered five saves in her high school debut.

2008 PCHS Girls Soccer Preview

PEKIN - This year's edition of the Pekin Community High School girls' soccer team is one that is searching for an identity, according to fifth-year head coach Edgar Sandoval.

Defensively, the team took a big hit when the school's first all-sectional player - defender Jeleighsa Hamilton - graduated after being a four-year starter. Also gone are two other physical defenders - Karis Parkin and Amanda Miller, who joined Hamilton playing for Illinois Central College this past fall.

The team is also missing two of its stronger offensive players. Junior Shelly Morris transferred to Peoria Richwoods, while sophomore Emily LaBanca, the team's leading scorer (six goals), had knee surgery in November and is questionable for this season.

"Emily is going to be an especially tough loss," Sandoval said. "She hopes to get back on the field later this season. But, she scored more goals than any other freshman and had a real shot of moving closer to Aimee St. Andre's career mark of 35 goals."

The team's other key player this season is sophomore Marissa McGurr, who was named second team all-Mid-Illini Conference and honorable mention all-sectional last year as a freshman. She will split time between defense and midfield.

The offense will lean heavily on sophomore forward Shawna Swisher, junior midfielder Jakki Johnson and junior center Allie Zuercher. Defensively, junior Jessica Allen returns with some experience, along with junior Kayla Milam, who is moving over from offense but had some success in the fall club season.

The goalie position will be filled by two-year varsity starter Lindsay Coffey and freshman Morgan Lynn.

"Having two strong goalies is a luxury few coaches have," Sandoval said. "Lindsay has done some really good things for us during her two years, including a 1-0 loss to Washington on a last-minute penalty kick. And last spring, I saw Morgan hold the eventual state club champions (Chicago Magic) to one goal before they scored an incredible game-winner in the last minute of a tournament game. I think the competition will help both of them develop."

Pekin returns five starters from last year's opening day roster. The Dragons were 6-11-2 overall, highlighted by a 1-0 win over Lincoln in the championship match of the Pekin Girls' Soccer Invitational, and 2-8-2 in the league.

Also, Sandoval said seven of his varsity players (including LaBanca) played in the fall club season. Zuercher, Coffey, Milam, McGurr, LaBanca and freshman Danica Mason teamed with some eighth graders on the Pekin Pride '94 team that took first place in the Central Illinois Youth Soccer League's High School Gold Division and second at the Morton Pumpkin Festival tournament.

"For the first time since my first year, I won't have three or four varsity seniors," Sandoval said. "I'm asking some of the younger girls to step up and take that leadership role a year or two early. It will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it."