Imperial High's Jannette Flores (left) battles with Brawley Union High's Cassandra Mendoza for possession of the ball in the first half of an Imperial Valley League game Tuesday in Imperial. (FERNANDO ACOSTA JR. PHOTO) |
IMPERIAL — The Imperial High girls’ soccer team held off a second-half surge by Brawley Union High and erased a one-goal deficit to record a 1-1 tie in an Imperial Valley League match here Tuesday.
An aggressive Wildcats squad opened the scoring in the 28th minute of the second half with a goal by Leslie Ramos.
Brawley kept its onslaught with several shots, either missing by inches or blocked by the Imperial goalkeeper.
The Wildcats were also called for offsides several times.
“I felt like we just couldn’t score and they scored the one they had,” Brawley head coach Arturo Lopez said. “I guess it was a deserving score.”
In the 31st minute, Imperial scored the equalizer off a corner kick cross by Melissa Gutierrez. The ball landed at Christina Ricks’ feet for the shot and goal.
“It came across a lot of girls and I was just there and I kicked it in. I was kind of surprised but it felt really good to score against Brawley,” said the 17-year-old senior left midfielder Ricks.
For the Tigers, it was a little bit of revenge, having lost to the Wildcats in the first round of league, 2-1, in Brawley.
“It was a very exciting game, a little aggressive, challenging,” Imperial head coach Jesus Gutierrez said. “We stepped to the plate this time and we played awesome.”
The Wildcats were pleased but not satisfied.
“I think we are a little disappointed because we were always really close, a lot of offsides,” Brawley senior midfielder Mariana Claustro, 18, said.
Imperial (0-6-2 IVL) will host Imperial High at 5 p.m. Friday while Brawley (3-3-1) will host Central Union High at 5 p.m. Friday.
