Streeter and Ottawa end in 1-1 stalemate – Shaw Local

OTTAWA — In a game where both teams had their few remaining chances in the second half of Saturday's game at King Field, Streeter and Ottawa both made the most of their biggest chances.

Ottawa freshman Chloe Carmona broke a scoreless battle with her first varsity goal with just over 14 minutes remaining, and Streeter senior Zuzu Gonzalez scored the tying goal with just under seven minutes left.

Neither team was able to produce a winner after that, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

This season, Ottawa is 2 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, while Streeter is 0 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws.

In Carmona's goal, off an assist from sophomore Sophia Faraney, the Pirates youngster shook a defender on her right, then on her left, and fired a low shot from 15 yards into the left corner of the goal, 14 yards into the net. I decided on the left corner. 22 seconds left in the second half.

“I wanted it to be a solid touch, whether the keeper stopped it or not. Luckily it was out of her reach.”

— Zuzu Gonzalez, Streeter senior forward

“Honestly, I really didn't want to take the shot, so I cut it,” Carmona said. “I was nervous to take the shot, nervous to miss, but I realized how close I was to the net and just went for it. I was lucky because I only had a split second look to see where the keeper was. I was also able to hit the shot where I aimed.

“I hope I won't be so nervous the next time I shoot. I think it was just confidence.”

Ottawa coach Kevin Oleson acknowledged that sometimes it only takes one possession to turn things around in soccer.

“We had a little bit of trouble developing a really solid attack until Chloe's goal,” Olesen said. “I felt like we played cleanly in the first half, but Streeter did a good job being a little more aggressive in the second half. After Streeter forced us for a while, we transitioned well with that (scoring) play. We were able to make some passes into open space and the last one went to Sofia and Chloe had a great finish.”

After Ottawa's score, Streeter kept up the pressure and finally broke through with 6 minutes, 55 seconds left when he took a nice corner kick off the legs of Alyssa Arambula and found a wide open Gonzalez.

“I wanted to position myself a little further behind the penalty box to start the play because I knew Alyssa Arambula could kick the ball over the penalty line in the corner,” Gonzalez said. “Really, it just happened. Her kick came right at me and I was ready for it. Heading is hard, so to be honest, all I had to do was head the ball into the goal. I wanted her to make a solid touch, whether the keeper stopped it or not. Fortunately, it was out of her reach.”

Streeter coach JT Huey said he was frustrated with the way Ottawa scored, but was pleased with how his team bounced back and found a way to tie the game.

“Obviously there wasn't much to write home about in the first half. We didn't have a lot of speed from either side and the ball was concentrated in the middle of the field,” Huey said. “I felt like we had control of the ball and field position for most of the second half, but we just couldn't finish the ball. Then we had some breakdowns on defense and it was difficult for Ottawa to get shots from there. We left (Carmona) alone in space and she received the ball and had a really nice touch, beating the defender and scoring.

“Zuzu made a great angled run on the corner kick that we scored, and Alyssa made a great kick into the top center of the box. It was a great all-round play and we were able to rebound and at least get the equalizer. it was good.”

Streeter will return to action Monday against Princeton, but Ottawa is scheduled to return to the field Wednesday in an Interstate 8 Conference game at La Salle-Peru.