RUSSELL — Both the Eisenhower boys and girl’s soccer teams suffered losses to Redbank Valley on Saturday. The girls lost 3-2 in the morning game while the boys lost in the afternoon game 3-1.

The Lady Knights started slow according to their head coach Faith Johnson, “We came out a little slow and that allowed Redbank to score just three minutes into the game.”

Being down early may have been just what Eisenhower needed as they held the visitors scoreless for the remainder of the half and were able to tie the game at 15:32 on a goal by Lexi Scholar who worked the ball down the middle of the Redbank defense and was successful on her shot from in front of the net and sent the Lady Knights into a 1-1 tie at the half.

The Lady Knights would take the lead just ten minutes into the second half on a laser shot by Scholar into the corner of the net. The lead would not last long as the visitors tied the game just a few minutes later at 2-2.

Neither team was able to score and with the game appearing headed for overtime, Redbank was to push the ball down the field and get a shot to the back of the net with just 43 seconds remaining in the game to take a 3-2 lead and ultimately the game.

“Tracey Jakubczak took some hard shots in the net and did a nice job for us,” Johnson added. “Lilly Jesperson and Sophia Martin really used their speed to break up their attacks, they both played really well. It was really a more aggressive game than we would have liked but once the girls figured it out we hung right there with them. We had four games in six days and I’m really proud of their effort in this one. We have a big test this week when we travel to Seneca tomorrow night, but the girls are looking forward to it.”

The Eisenhower boys also played a tough Redbank team, ultimately falling 3-1. All of the scoring was done in the first half by both teams. The Knights’ Logan Degnan scored on a shot in the middle of the net at the 28 minute mark to give Eisenhower the early lead 1-0.

Redbank would be held scoreless until the 15 minute mark when Titus Smith took a pass from teammate Caleb Root and sent a shot into the goal to tie the score at 1-1.

The visitors would get another goal on a deflected shot on Eisenhower goalie Case Seymour and Kaden Sturgeon tapped the ball into the net to take a 2-1 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Sturgeon would score the last points of the game just five minutes later on a pass from Kieran Fricke with five minutes remaining to send both teams into the half with a 3-1 Redbank lead.

The second half would prove to be a defensive battle as both goalies beat back numerous shots on goal as neither team was able to score as the game ended in a 3-1 Redbank victory.