Lady Hawks Get a DQ Treat in Win Over Pleasanton, 2-1
The Lady Hawk’s Soccer team liked the taste of their victory over Pleasanton, 2-1 as their next contest will be against a team from District 26-4A in Boerne.
All four teams from District 26-4A and 29-4A will battle it out with a guarantee of two teams from each of these districts with tickets to the Valley for Sweet 16 battles.
Canyon Lake was able to score first in their match with the Eagles with a corner shot that had Gabi Pace getting the job done for that goal at the 27:36 mark of the first half on a Emily Pena assist.
Pleasanton had a break a way dribble with a speedster in Brandi Barnett down the sideline and a tying goal with 7:52 remaining before halftime.
“We did not play well but that does not matter now as we just battled,” Head Coach Kara Stracener stated. “This was different from our last game but it was those little things again but we needed a wake-up call for the last 40 minutes and I told the girls that this could be their half for this year.”
There was a time that not playing well would have led to a defeat, but things have changed when a team (CL) can not play at their best but still win with a chance to continue their magical season.
Goalie Lexi Hettinger was nails in that second half as there were several break-a-ways by an Eagle player, Barnett who scored Pleasanton’s only goal, would be one on one with Hettinger.
Each save had Hettinger tackling the ball for a save, “She is by far the best one versus one shot stopper I have seen and those stops she had were really good,” Coach Stracener said.
“I just wanted to prevent a goal,” Hettinger stated. “I put my body on the line at all cost.”
Each save was heard from the stands as the Pleasanton fans were disappointed while CL fans would have a heavy sigh of relief as each time Hettinger would reach the ball before a clean shot at goal.
“We have been working hard since our 7th grade year and we never won a game,” Hettinger said like a History Teacher. “And now we have been waiting for an opportunity to get a chance to succeed.”
Senior Karleigh Schedlbauer was a Land Rover on this night as she was always moving offensively and defensively. Covering every strand of turf for this win.
On thoughts on that first goal by Pace, “It was crazy…there was a header and we just started crashing and Gabi scored the goal.”
“I just wanted to win and get to the next round,” Schedlbauer recounted. “This was awesome for a chance to make it this far in the playoffs….all the girls worked hard for us!”
Hettinger then interrupted with a, “This is like tasting a DQ ice cream and putting a cherry on top!!”
For a group of ladies that had not had a winning record and now being Seniors and a chance to go out with a run has certainly made that taste after a game being a much sweeter thought even a DQ treat.
That treat came with 19:51 remaining in this battle when Maddie Pipkin had a chance with an open shot from 25 yards out and then her kick into the back of the net for what would be a clinching goal and another chance to take on Boerne.
Now with 18 wins and a chance to meet the Greyhounds at Smithson Valley with game time starting at 7:00pm and the winner packing their bags for Harlingen with a chance to continue a record setting season for a group of Seniors that started their high school career with that bad taste in their mouth that has now turned to a DQ Treat!!
Way to GO HAWKS & BEAT BOERNE!!