Pekin 4, Dunlap 0

PEKIN, Ill. -
For 13 years, the Pekin girls’ soccer program has been working towards a signature victory over one of the area’s soccer heavyweights. They finally got it Saturday morning in a dominating 4-0 win over Dunlap.
“Our girls exceeded my highest expectations today,” Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
Freshman striker Sarah Zuercher gave the Lady Dragons the only goal they would need less than one minute into the game on a pass from freshman Michaela Quilty. She was also able to connect again midway through the half for another goal, this time from freshman midfielder Holly Spangler.
Midway through the half, freshman midfielder Holly Spangler took a drop from junior Lauren Cash just outside of the 18, then switched the ball to the right side where Zuercher buried it again for a 2-0 lead.
“Michaela and Holly made two great passes and to have a finisher like Sarah makes it rewarding and lot of fun for all of us,” Sandoval added.
Pekin was able to rack up two more goals after the break, when junior Shawna Swisher was able to connect on her first goal of the season and Quilty hit a shot from about 20 yards out with about seven minutes to play.
“Look, it’s just one win, but this is a significant milestone for our program,” Sandoval said. “To beat one of the top teams in the area after struggling to just get shots on their goal the past two years says a lot about how hard our girls have been working.”
Pekin (4-2-1, 2-1-1) hosts Washington on Tuesday. The Lady Panthers’ squad is 4-1-1 against the Lady Dragons the past three years.