Second-half adjustments
Mercyhurst Prep scores 3 after break to beat Eisenhower
Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower's Keira Cressley settles a ball in front of Mercyhurst Prep's Angelique Hinijoza during Wednesday's Region 3 girls soccer game in Russell.
Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower's Josie Elms settles a ball in front of Mercyhurst Prep's Madison Serafini during Wednesday's Region 3 girls soccer game in Russell.
Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower's Keira Cressley settles a ball in front of Mercyhurst Prep's Angelique Hinijoza during Wednesday's Region 3 girls soccer game in Russell.
Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower's Josie Elms settles a ball in front of Mercyhurst Prep's Madison Serafini during Wednesday's Region 3 girls soccer game in Russell.
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RUSSELL -- In a battle of Region 3 girls soccer teams Wednesday evening, the Eisenhower Knights gave Mercyhurst Prep all it could handle, but couldn't make their 1-0 halftime team hold up and fell to the Lakers 3-1.
Eisenhower came out aggressive from the start and with crisp passing, outshot the Lakers 14-4 on goal in the first half.
Rosalie Rondeau gave Eisenhower the early lead when she took a pass from Josie Elms and found the back of the net to give the Knights a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the game.
"We came out strong in the first half and that allowed us to get a good start," Eisenhower head coach Ashley Elms said.
The Knights kept up the pressure and narrowly missed several shots around the net. Their tough defense kept Mercyhurst Prep from scoring in the first half.
The Lakers made some changes at the half and before the Knights could adjust the visitors scored two goals in the span of 1:35 to take a 2-1 lead.
Neither team could reach the back of the net again until the visitors connected on a shot with 6:24 remaining to give them a 3-1 lead.
"We ended the first half feeling really good about the game," Coach Elms said. "They made some adjustments and their goals were back to back, which just shows how quickly a game can change."
Eisenhower had strong games from several players, but Elms had high praise for her defenders.
"I thought Sophia Wallace and Maiah Konen-Smith really stood out," she said. "Keira Cressley had a great game at the wing; she left everything in the field and really put the pressure on from her side."
Eisenhower now stands at 3-3-0 overall and falls to 1-2-0 in Region 3.