By Adam Knoll
Sports Correspondent
The Whitewater High School girls soccer team had to endure sloppy conditions and a wind chill that was not pleasant however, the team was able to grind out a tie with the Delavan-Darien Comets who had scored early, in the 7th minute of play.
Following that blip, the Whippet defense was a stronghold. Midfielder Yvan-na Strait and Megan Reyn-olds controlled the midfield and Delavan never had another solid scoring chance.
After moving to the second half in much the same way, Whitewater controlled possession on Delavan’s half of the field. In the 58th minute, after what seemed like an eternity, the Whippets were able to beat the Comet goalkeeper and tie the game.
Holly Hough raced through the Delavan side, breaking past the front line and ripping a shot into the top of the net.
The tides had turned as the Whippets controlled the ball for the remainder of the game but could not find satisfaction again, ending the game in a waterlogged tie.
“(I am) very pleased with the progress the team is making,” coach Rene Menager after the game. “(Our) defense to offense transition game has improved but there was still more work to do on the finishing portion of the game.”
On Monday night, the Whippets would took the lessons learned at Delavan and applied them against Big Foot to earn a very satisfying victory.
Whitewater applied pressure from the outset, pushing the ball past the keeper in the 12th minute, off the foot of Rebekah Schumacher.
Schumacher again found the back of the net, this time in the 25th minute. After that second score, Whitewater turned to what it does best: controlling the midfield, which they did thanks to Megan Reynolds, Brittney Piper and Melani Martinez.
Big Foot was just as determined however, and pulled the score close with a strike in the 38th minute.
After not trailing at all this season, Big Foot came out to play in the second half. Their relentless assaults culminated in a tie game at the 67th minute.
The physicalness of the game increased and neither team could figure out how to manage a sustained attack. After trading scoring opportunities a few times, Whitewater’s Autumn Bultman slashed through a hole in the Big Foot back line and drilled what would be the game winner in the 84th minute.
“This was a big win and is the key in maintaining our chances for a conference title,” Menager said. “The entire team played very well and has been able to raise their game each time they play.”
