Somerset soccer continues to keep games close

• Lisa O'Connor

Somerset senior Lisa O’Connor (4) battles with a Hudson player for control of the ball during Saturday’s game.

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The competitive fire hasn’t gone out for the winless Somerset girls soccer team.

The Spartans find ways to be competitive in nearly every game, but they haven’t found a way to come out on the winning end yet.

Last Tuesday’s game against Middle Border Conference leader Hayward is a prime example. The Spartans put up an excellent fight for much of the game. In the second half the Spartans had a 10-minute lapse, in which Hayward scored three goals.

The effort level didn’t drop and the Spartans got a goal from Brooke Conrad with 30 seconds left in the 4-1 defeat to the Hurricanes.

Somerset coach Erin Wilson said her team lets the opponent dictate the energy level for the game. She said she thought the Spartans could have played with more energy in their 3-2 loss to Baldwin-Woodville last Thursday. B-W was able to score twice in the first half and added another in the second half before the Spartans could get on the scoreboard. Conrad and Laura Wells scored Somerset’s goals.

“It was a good game, definitely one that in my opinion I think we should have won, but couldn’t quite get there,” Wilson said.

On Saturday the Spartans hosted the Hudson junior varsity team. With other school activities happening, the Spartans were limited to 12 players for the game. Hudson’s JV team would be quite competitive in the MBC and the Spartans were able keep the game scoreless throughout the first half.

Hudson scored once early in the second half. In the final 15 minutes the lack of reserves wore the Spartans down and Hudson was able to get three late goals for a 4-0 win.

Wilson said she saw good things from the Spartans in this game, especially in the defensive half of the field.

“I thought that the defense worked well together. We were missing a lot of our offensive players but we had a few opportunities,” she said.

The Spartans resume their MBC schedule on Thursday with a game at Amery. The Spartans will host a quad meet this Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. Teams competing in the event include Eau Claire North, Eau Claire Regis and Amery.

Tags: sports, somerset, soccer, spartans, prep