Girls soccer continues rough start, losing another game at home

Michael Lebbin
Staff Writer

The girls soccer team fell short in itsgame on Wednesday, losing 3-1 to South Torrance at home. The team started its season last week and currently holds a record of 0-2-1.

In the first half, South came out and scored in the first 20 minutes, taking an early 1-0 lead. The Mustangs left the score unchallenged for the rest of the half.

“Once they scored their first goal, we lost our intensity,” senior center defender Lauren Irwin said. “They took advantage of that opportunity and played harder. We started to play better, but it was too late.”

In the second half, South scored yet another quick goal, but Mira Costa responded with a goal from sophomore forward Emilie Flaig, making the score 2-1. With five minutes left in the game, South’s forward kicked the ball over a defensive player’s head, scoring a goal and ending the game 3-1.

“When we scored, we realized we were still in the game and began to pick up our level of play, but after a little bit, we started to rush and play frantically, not putting as much thought into each play as we could have,” Irwin said. “Overall, it was not our best game, and we just weren’t connecting with each other or working cohesively.”

Earlier in the second half, a South player kicked junior left outside back Caroline Keever in the face, causing South to get a yellow card. Keever then received a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct, causing the Mustangs to play shorthanded for the last 10 minutes of the game, providing the opening for South’s final goal.

“I was just in the heat of the moment and really angry at the other player for kicking me in the face,” Keever said. “Getting the red card for it just added to my anger about the situation. In the end, I’m most upset that I can’t play in the next game.”

The Mustangs’ next game will be at home tonight against Harvard Westlake at 6 p.m. where the Mustangs will look for their first win of the season.

“This is a game that we’ve been talking about for weeks, and we are very excited to play,” senior Mckenna Doyle said. “We beat Harvard Westlake 5-0 last year, so they are coming to redeem themselves. I think our level of intensity will match and, hopefully, exceed theirs.”