Euts Score Three, Drop Season Opener to Lady Blues

(Photo courtesy of Makenzie Ness)

The Eutectic women's soccer team opened the 2023 season on Thursday night, hosting the Illinois College Lady Blues (2-2-0) from Jacksonville, Ill., on the grass field at Maplewood High School. After battling for 90 minutes, the Lady Blues finished on top, winning 4-3.

It only took 89 seconds for the Eutectics' Katlyn Akers to mark the board with her first goal of the season. After stealing the ball from an IC defender, Akers launched one from the penalty arc over the head of goalkeeper Sophia Kriegesmann and into the top of the net to give the Euts an early 1-0 lead.

21 minutes later, UHSP goalkeeper Zoe Dixon deflected a long shot from Olivia Hulsey directly into a waiting Kayla Piper who tapped it in to even the score at 1-1.

Illinois College would take the lead with six minutes left in the first half, when Erin O'Connell's through-ball down the left side found Haley Sommer. Sommer was able to quickly turn and roll the ball past Dixon into the lower right corner of the net. The score was 2-1 - Lady Blues - at the half.

23 minutes into the second half, Katlyn Akers stole the ball in the right side of the IC penalty area. She dribbled around five IC defenders, then buried it in the upper left corner of the goal off her left foot for her second goal of the night.

The 2-2 tie didn't last long, however. Just over two minutes later, IC's Olivia Ralston took a 20-yard shot from the right side that went right off the glove of Dixon and into the goal.

Signs of fatigue from both teams began to show as the game headed into the final 15 minutes. The Eutectics, however, would not give up. In the 77^th minute of the game, Akers fought past a defender to pass the ball to Ashton Aguirre just outside the penalty box in front of the goal. Aguirre dribbled past an IC defender and scored from 10 yards out to tie up the game again at 3-3.

The two teams continued the tightly contested battle, but a Eutectic foul just inside their own penalty box after an IC throw-in set up a penalty kick for the Lady Blues with just over five minutes left in the game. Haley Sommer took the opportunity to score her second goal of the game, putting the ball past UHSP goalkeeper Dixon off the penalty kick to regain the lead at 4-3 for the visiting team. The Illinois College lead would stick this time, as the final five minutes ticked away without any more shots from the Eutectic team.

Katlyn Akers racked up two goals and an assist to Aguirre's goal in the game. Dixon made three saves at net.  

The Eutectics have a few days off from competition before hosting the Blackburn College Beavers (Ill.) on Sunday, Sept. 10, at Creve Coeur Soccer Complex at 6 p.m.