Lady Honkers held at home

The Willows High girl's soccer team lost to visiting Esparto 3-1 on Thursday in nonleague play.

Defense ruled the field for the Honkers, and, despite the loss at home, they managed to put in a solid effort, keeping the visiting Spartans somewhat at bay.

The beginning of the meeting saw a full press from the Esparto team, who had considerable dribbling and passing skills in their arsenal. Willows held the line and pressed back, sending their forwards and mid-fielders up along the flanks of the field.

This strategy would give the Honkers their lone goal of the evening, when Devin Perez swung in from the right side to burn the Spartan fullbacks and land a strike in the 26th minute. Perez could be seen flitting between players throughout the game and made several great shots on goal during the outing.

The Spartans crumpled the left side of the Willows defense during a fast break on the right side, with Breciedia Jacobo slicing one through to the far post and tying the game at 1-1.

Honker sweeper Jessica Mendiola was more than efficient during the game's entirety, consistently getting the ever-important first touch, while also chipping a hard ball up field many times. Mendiola also deflected a fast strike from Spartan Jacobo in the first half. Had Mendiola not been there, it would have been a near perfect goal. Jacobo would go on to score Esparto's two goals.

Willows' hard work would carry them into the half, with the score resting at 1-1.

After the half, the two teams would continue to drudge it out, with both getting into the open and firing shots, but none of them landing for either side. Jacobo would get past the Honkers one last time, again on the right side when she hammered in a goal in the 58th minute.

Luck struck again for Esparto when a strike was deflected by a Honker defender, causing an own goal and giving the Spartans a 3-1 lead in the 83rd minute.

Neither team would find a path for another score before the whistles blew time on the matchup, with Esparto claiming a hard fought win over the home team.

Making many clutch saves for the Honkers was keeper Jennifer Chappell, who had to deal with the onslaught of shots coming in from the Spartan front-line and with the help of her defense kept it to a low scoring loss. Last year the Spartans were able to take home a 7-0 victory over the Honkers, proof that the Willows team is in a state of improvement.

Willows coach Bud Ramirez complimented the girls' hard work.

"We are a young team, and even though we lost I think we played well. We are constantly getting better and we have been working hard to improve," he said.

Willows is now 1-2-2 overall and 1-0-1 in league play.

The Honkers hosted Wheatland on Friday.

CONTACT Emily Saint-Evens @ 824-7990 or esaintevens@tcnpress.com