mjackson@escalontimes.com
Escalon coach Jamie Peoples had it down as a 6-0 loss; Hughson had the official book and listed it as a 5-0 final. Either way, it was a loss for Escalon as they were shut out on the road by the Huskies on Monday, April 27. They came back with a solid effort on the road at Modesto Christian on Wednesday, April 29, winning 2-0.
The split of games left the varsity Lady Cougars at 7-5-2 in Trans-Valley League play, just out of the playoff picture. They were scheduled to wrap up the season with a game at Ripon against the TVL champion and playoff-bound Indians on Monday, May 4 after The Times went to press.
At 10-6-5 overall, the Lady Cougars have had a successful season but fell just short of grabbing a spot in the second season. Only two teams make the playoffs from the TVL this year and those spots went to Ripon and Hughson.
Monday's performance at Hughson was not what Peoples was looking for from her team.
"It was 3-0 at halftime," she said. "We had two starters out with injuries, two girls that didn't come to practice and my rule is if you don't practice, you don't start.
"So we had four key starters out and that's (shutout loss) what happens."
The team also came out uncharacteristically flat in the contest. Hughson, on the other hand, was ready to go.
"They stepped it up," Peoples said of the host Huskies. "It was their senior day, it was a big game for them and their home field record is very good."
Autumn Anderson made three saves in goal for Escalon in the first half, Katie San Julian had eight saves in the second half.
"Wednesday at Modesto Christian we stepped it up," Peoples said. "We knew we were playing for third or fourth place."
Wanting to finish strong, in that third place spot, the Lady Cougars had to take care of business against Modesto Christian to nail down third.
"It was 0-0 at the half, a 2-0 win, and in the last 15 to 20 minutes of the game we scored," Peoples explained.
Taylor Morrow converted on a penalty kick opportunity (4-for-4 this season) after an Escalon player was taken out in the box and Morrow also figured in to the second goal, sending a through ball to Melanie Winkler, who finished it for the goal.
"Taylor had a really nice game," Peoples said.
The Lady Cougars also kept the MC goalie busy, firing off 18 shots on goal in the contest.
"We had a lot of opportunities," the coach agreed. "We beat the last defender, we beat the goalie, we hit the post twice, the shot went wide ... that has been the story of our season."
San Julian stopped six MC shots for the shutout and the win solidified the Lady Cougars in third place. With the final game on the road, Peoples was hoping for a solid effort.
"The last time we played them (Ripon), the score didn't reflect how close the game was," she said.
Escalon coach Jamie Peoples had it down as a 6-0 loss; Hughson had the official book and listed it as a 5-0 final. Either way, it was a loss for Escalon as they were shut out on the road by the Huskies on Monday, April 27. They came back with a solid effort on the road at Modesto Christian on Wednesday, April 29, winning 2-0.
The split of games left the varsity Lady Cougars at 7-5-2 in Trans-Valley League play, just out of the playoff picture. They were scheduled to wrap up the season with a game at Ripon against the TVL champion and playoff-bound Indians on Monday, May 4 after The Times went to press.
At 10-6-5 overall, the Lady Cougars have had a successful season but fell just short of grabbing a spot in the second season. Only two teams make the playoffs from the TVL this year and those spots went to Ripon and Hughson.
Monday's performance at Hughson was not what Peoples was looking for from her team.
"It was 3-0 at halftime," she said. "We had two starters out with injuries, two girls that didn't come to practice and my rule is if you don't practice, you don't start.
"So we had four key starters out and that's (shutout loss) what happens."
The team also came out uncharacteristically flat in the contest. Hughson, on the other hand, was ready to go.
"They stepped it up," Peoples said of the host Huskies. "It was their senior day, it was a big game for them and their home field record is very good."
Autumn Anderson made three saves in goal for Escalon in the first half, Katie San Julian had eight saves in the second half.
"Wednesday at Modesto Christian we stepped it up," Peoples said. "We knew we were playing for third or fourth place."
Wanting to finish strong, in that third place spot, the Lady Cougars had to take care of business against Modesto Christian to nail down third.
"It was 0-0 at the half, a 2-0 win, and in the last 15 to 20 minutes of the game we scored," Peoples explained.
Taylor Morrow converted on a penalty kick opportunity (4-for-4 this season) after an Escalon player was taken out in the box and Morrow also figured in to the second goal, sending a through ball to Melanie Winkler, who finished it for the goal.
"Taylor had a really nice game," Peoples said.
The Lady Cougars also kept the MC goalie busy, firing off 18 shots on goal in the contest.
"We had a lot of opportunities," the coach agreed. "We beat the last defender, we beat the goalie, we hit the post twice, the shot went wide ... that has been the story of our season."
San Julian stopped six MC shots for the shutout and the win solidified the Lady Cougars in third place. With the final game on the road, Peoples was hoping for a solid effort.
"The last time we played them (Ripon), the score didn't reflect how close the game was," she said.
