Girls soccer: Oak Ridge defeats The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Mercedes Rodgers converted a penalty kick in the 75th minute and the Oak Ridge High School girls’ soccer team took the District 14-5A lead on Friday with a 4-3 victory over The Woodlands.

Rodgers broke a 3-3 tie after the Lady Highlanders were whistled for a handball violation. The Oak Ridge junior found the back of the net, drilling the penalty kick into the left corner of the goal.

The Lady War Eagles (8-4-2, 6-0) move into first place in the District 14-5A standings, handing the Lady Highlanders (10-5-1, 5-1) their first league loss.

“It was a great game with two strong offenses,” Oak Ridge girls’ soccer coach Jim Collins said.

It was also a match that didn’t include some of the better talent from both squads. Both teams missed players who are participating in the Elite Clubs National League tournament in Dallas/Fort Worth.

“They lost a lot of talent,” Collins said. “But we lost two of our best offensive players.”

The Woodlands had not allowed a district goal entering Friday’s match. But Oak Ridge pounded away early with goals from Claire Schuman, Kate Smith and Gates Yager to take a 3-1 advantage at halftime.

However, the short-handed Lady Highlanders valiantly fought back, scoring two goals in the early part of the second half to tie the match, 3-3.

Carmen Webster scored two goals and Cassie Sweebe added another for the Lady Highlanders against an Oak Ridge defense that had yielded just one district goal this season.

“Carmen played a tremendous game for them,” Collins said.

Webster tied the match with a penalty kick before Rodgers won it for Oak Ridge with a penalty kick.

The Lady War Eagles look to maintain their lead as the two teams close the regular season on March 21 at Oak Ridge.