Header Wins it for Windsor Locks

Tiana Edwards knows how to use her head.

The Windsor Locks sophomore used her head, and her height, to put the ball in the net and give the Raiders a 1-0 victory over host .

With only 3:41 remaining in the game, had a free kick just outside the Somers box. Amanda Loubier placed the ball perfectly for Edwards who netted it.

“I think oftentimes in soccer, on a set play like that, that’s the result,” said Windsor Locks coach Jim O’Brien. “Loubie had a great chip and Tiana did what she’s supposed to do. She’s 5’9” or 5’10” or whatever she is and she did what she’s supposed to do. Loubie put it perfectly. That ball might have even gone in, but Tiana made sure it went in.”

Somers coach Mark Lacafta said that he’s won and lost games like that before, and will probably win and lose more just like it.

“It’s just part of the game, just one of those things,” he said.

Windsor Locks had a couple other good scoring chances – like the ball running right across the line, going just wide of the goal, or off the post.

Somers also had several chances but couldn’t capitalize.

“We had our opportunities and we didn’t finish so that’s our fault,” Lacafta said. “We didn’t score when we had a chance. They got the one that counted. We missed our chances when we should have put the ball away. We didn’t and they did and that’s how it goes.”

He added, “The first 20 minutes of that second half, we played on their half of the field the whole entire time. His defense did a nice job, they held strong, and they didn’t break. Those first 20 minutes we should have put a couple balls in the back of the net and we didn’t. His defense did a nice job holding strong and we should have capitalized.”

One of the reasons that Somers didn’t put the ball in the back of the net was Windsor Locks sweeper Maggie Sayers. Sayers, who isn’t very big, was a stalwart in the back, turning away several Somers drives.

“Maggie, she’s just awesome,” O’Brien said. “She just lifts everybody up because she’s so tiny and she does so many things for us. It just picks everybody up all the time. Maggie is such a firecracker back there.”

Lacafta remembers Sayers from last year and also remembers that she had a great game then too.

“She’s very quick and she’s got a very strong leg,” he said. “She totally anchors that defense and keeps the opposing teams in a position where it’s very difficult to break through that line and have an opportunity on goal.”

Somers starting goalkeeper Helena Rheault has battling an illness the last couple of weeks and was only able to go the first half. Hailee Stetson came in for the second half, causing Somers to have to make some changes.

“That takes one of my field players out of the field that I need on the field,” Lacafta said. “So we have to make some adjustments on the field – but we should be able to adapt to that.”

Rheault and Stetson combined for five saves while Windsor Locks keeper Chelsea Santos made 11 saves.           

Normally when the Spartans and Raiders meet, it’s a close game – this game was no different.

“We kinda knew going into this one that it would probably be a one-goal game,” O’Brien said.

Lacafta added, “Windsor Locks always plays us tough. With the exception of one game, I think all the games have been tight, one-goal. One goal is the difference in the game the last couple of games.”

Normally however, it’s Somers that is victorious.

“It’s our first win against them in a long time,” O’Brien said. “This is a big win for us.”

Somers (3-3) travels to Stafford on Monday. Windsor Locks (3-3) travels to Canton the same day.