Lady Yoe shut out Rockdale
The Lady Yoe soccer team shut out the Rockdale Lady Tigers 4-0 in dominating fashion on Friday night.
Cameron got the ball going almost immediately as they scored a goal in first minute of the game by Ja’Kerra Holt (16) off of a header to take the lead.
“Ja’Kerra’s early goal was a huge momentum builder for the team,” Coach Laura Dickson said. “In our previous match with Rockdale, we didn’t score until the second half, so this helped set the tone for our win.”
The Lady Yoe had another shot on goal chance in the sixth minute by Jule Preiser (21) but she could not get the goal. Cameron would score their second goal in an unusual way on an own goal where a Rockdale player accidentally kicked the ball into their own net to make it 2-0 in the eleventh minute of the game.
With having a 2-0 lead, the Lady Yoe continued to pour on the pressure, as they just missed another shot on goal opportunity in the 15th minute. Cameron continued to keep the ball on Rockdale’s side of the field, keeping the intense pressure on the Rockdale goalie.
“Our defense played a great game as well,” Dickson said. “They applied very high pressure, keeping the ball on our attacking half of the field for most of the night. Very few balls got through the defensive line, and those that did, we were able to use our speed and athleticism to chase down. Overall, it was a great team effort, and a great win on Senior Night.”
Holt had another chance for a goal in the 19th minute but missed the shot. Cameron kept the Rockdale goalie on her toes as they missed two other chances to score in the 22nd minute. The Lady Yoe also missed a corner kick in the 27th minute. Late in the first half, Rockdale finally made a push on offense, but the Lady Yoe was able to keep them in check. Cameron was able to get one last at a shot on goal with two minutes left in the first half but could not connect on the shot. The Lady Yoe had complete control going into halftime, leading 2-0.
The Lady Yoe started the second half strong on offense, much like in the first half. Holt missed a shot on goal in the eighth minute of the half. Cameron’s first score of the second half came from Preiser in the 52nd minute. Preiser scored the fourth goal in the game, and her second goal in the half, in the 57th minute.
“Jule Preiser was also a key contributor for each goal scored,” Dickson said. “She got the assist for Ja’Kerra’s goal, was the one that sent the ball through where a Rockdale defender deflected the ball to score an own goal for us, and then had two goals of her own in the second half. I moved her from defender to an attacking center mid this year, and she has really taken ownership of that position.”
The Lady Yoe missed a chance at a fastbreak goal from Holt in the 59th minute of the game. Cameron also missed a corner kick chance in the 70th minute of the game. Rockdale applied some pressure on the Lady Yoe side of the field with seven minutes left in the game. But goalie, Savannah Nejtek (35), was able to hold strong to complete the shutout. The Cameron Lady Yoe would then go on to win 4-0. The Lady Yoe’s next matchup would be on Tuesday against the La Grange Lady Leopards.
The Cameron Lady Yoe fell to La Grange 2-1. The game started out even between the two teams. The Lady Yoe faced some early pressure, but their defense was able to get out of early trouble and avoided a scare as a La Grange player missed the shot right near the net.
Cameron avoided another scare in the 26th minute as that time the Lady Leopards kick went over the net. Nejtek saved a goal in the 29th minute, but unfortunately Cameron allowed a goal shortly after. The team was given hope as Holt gave the team a spark and scored the tying goal for the Lady Yoe with eight minutes left in the half.
“Ja’Kerra’s goal started in the back and was cleared up the field by Giselle Alvarez (19),” Dickson said. “Ja’Kerra was able to get past the defense and put the ball in past the keeper.”
Cameron kept up the pressure on their side of the field. The Lady Yoe avoided a scare in the last ten seconds of the half. The game would stay tied at halftime 1-1.
The second half started with Cameron facing some early pressure and struggled some on offense.
“In the half, we were playing against a strong wind and didn’t have as many chances,” Dickson said.
The Lady Yoe avoided a goal in the 46th minute as the La Grange player missed a shot on the outside of the net. The Lady Yoe missed a shot on goal opportunity in the 48th minute by Gabriella Borgas (10). Nejtek made a great save in the 49th minute. Holt missed a fastbreak chance shortly after the Nejtek save. The Lady Yoes defense denied two corner kick opportunities in the 51st minute.
Neither team seemed to gain momentum as both teams took turns pushing the ball up the field. Cameron denied a free kick by La Grange that was saved by Nejtek in the 57th minute. Shortly after that, Nejtek came up with another save with ten minutes left in the game. La Grange scored a goal, putting a dagger in the hearts of Cameron with nine minutes to go in the game to give the Lady Leopards the lead.
The Lady Yoe couldn’t answer at the close of the game and would lose 2-1. Despite the loss, the Lady Yoe stayed strong on defense throughout the entire game which gave them a fighting chance.
“It was a full team effort tonight. Our defense played a great game,” Dickson said. “Without them playing as tough as they did, we wouldn’t have had opportunities to score.”
Up next for Cameron will be a home game against the Giddings Lady Buffaloes for the regular season finale.
The Lady Yoe will have their hands full versus Giddings as they are the top team in the district and Cameron will try to do something no other team in district has done, by scoring a goal on them.
“The Giddings game is going to be another tough one,” Dickson said. “We are going to have to play well defensively and find a way to score against their tough defense. No one has scored on them in district, yet.”
Even with the tough loss and whatever happens against Giddings, the Lady Yoe have also clinched a spot for the playoffs and is expected to be a third seed in the district.