Lady Coalers start season with win over Reed-Custer

By: 
Brent Sumner
Staff Writer

    Following Coal City picking up a season-opening win over Reed-Custer last Tuesday, the Lady Coaler varsity girls soccer team wound up suffering a loss to Morris.
    Coal City gave up a goal in the opening and closing minutes of the first half, as they went into half-time down 2-0.
    Morris recorded a goal in the opening minutes of the second, moving to a 3-0 advantage.
    The Lady Coalers played with determination to get back in the game in the second half, and would eventually record their first goal of the game.
    Ashley Matusiak got on the board with her first goal of the season, scoring from a 30-yard direct kick.
    The Redskins added one more insurance goal late in the final half to wind up winning, 4-1.
    Miranda Ramirez finished the day with 11 saves at the goal.
    The Lady Coalers are scheduled to play at Yorkville on Wednesday, and will follow that up with a trip to Westmont on Thursday.
    Coal City will return home on Monday and Tuesday where they will host Kankakee, and then Wilmington for the start of conference action.
Coal City 1,
Reed-Custer 0

    The Lady Coalers started their season in fine fashion by picking up a shutout win over Reed-Custer last Tuesday.
    The Lady Comets got off to a fast start, creating the first two scoring opportunities of the game.
    Coal City would eventually buckle down defensively though, as they also began to find their rhythm offensively toward the end of the first half.
    With a minute and a half left until half-time, the Lady Coalers scored the game’s only goal. Senior forward Leah Hiles scored a well placed goal off an aggressively executed assist by sophomore forward Helen Onsen.
    Coal City’s defense continued to hold off Reed-Custer’s offense in the second half to secure the win.
    In her varsity debut, keeper Ramirez earned the win with a sure-handed nine-save performance.