McDonald County had several opportunities to take the lead against Carl Junction, but the Lady Bulldogs fought off each of those chances before they scored the only goal of the match with 14:19 left in the second half for a 1-0 win in the first game of the Missouri Class 3 District 11 Soccer Tournament on May 13 at MCHS.
Carl Junction took advantage of a loose ball in the penalty box after a throw-in from the west sideline. Tessa Miller found the ball in the middle of the field and then kicked it into the corner of the net past lady Mustang goalie Nicole Salas.
Salas had been kept busy throughout the match, saving eight of Carl Junction's 15 shots before Miller hit the game winner.
"This was probably the best game I have seen our girls play this year," said coach John DelaTorre. "From the first game of the season until this game tonight, they have grown a lot. I couldn't be more proud of these girls. Today wasn't our day; it just wasn't written in the stars."
The loss ends the 2019 season for McDonald County and the high school careers for eight seniors.
"This is my first year here, but these seniors absolutely laid the foundation of what this program is going to be about," said DelaTorre. "We will miss them next year, that's for sure, but hopefully this group of underclassmen will pick right where they left off and keep pushing us in the right direction."
Playing their final game for the Lady Mustangs were Salas, Karen Gasca, Leslie Yousey, Alexia Kitlen, Helen Reyes, Ally Dill, Baylee Payne and Esmerelda Estrada.
McDonald County finished the 2019 season with a 1-15 record.
Sports on 05/16/2019