GPS soccer coach Dave Barrueta told his team that he doesn't ask for perfection, but he does ask for heart.
The Bruisers had plenty heart and hustle Tuesday night and scored a goal in each half to post a 2-0 win against visiting Soddy Daisy.
“It was match of two of the best teams in the area tonight and we were able to get a couple of goals and keep them out of the net,'' said Barrueta whose team improved to 8-4-2.
Bruiser sophomore Chadarryl Clay opened the scoring in the 31st minute as she put a shot from 15 yards out in the left corner on an assist from Samira Rahbe.
Rahbe made it 2-0 in the 70th minute as her shot was inside the right post from 10 yards out on a double assist from Bess Wallis and Sarah Mastery.
The No 10 Trojans (11-3-1) led in shots, 15-9, corner kicks, 8-2, and free kicks, 10-4, while GPS sophomore goal keeper Simone Busby played well in the nets with nine saves.
Both teams created scoring opportunities off corner kicks early in the first half.
A header by Bruiser's Mary Woodruff “Woody'' Griffin was wide of the mark in the fourth minute, while Busby made an excellent play to stop a Hannah Jenkins shot from the left side off a pass from Hannah Wyatt in the seventh minute.
A Wallis shot from 15 yards in front was blocked by a defender in the 13th minute, while Wyatt had an open goal four minutes later, but sent the shot over the cross bar.
Clay was able to get a foot on a loose ball in the 31st minute and slipped it past Trojan goalkeeper Haley Myers for the 1-0 lead.
The Trojans final good scoring chance of the first half came in the 34th minute as an Elizabeth Geier shot from 20 yards was high over the bar.
Soddy Daisy had three solid scoring opportunities in the first 13 minutes of the second half as Busby stopped shots from Wyatt and Melissa Downs, sandwiched around Bruiser defenders clearing a shot in front of the net off a corner.
Myers stopped a Wallis shot from 20 yards in the 54th minute, while Bruiser teammates could not get a foot on a solid cross in the box by Heather Daniel three minutes later.
Rahbe added the insurance goal in the 70th minute.
One minute later a Hannah Jenkins shot from the left hit off the GPS cross bar and then cleared by Bruiser defenders.
“Soccer is a game of opportunities and we had some good ones tonight, but couldn't convert,'' said Soddy Daisy coach Moises Drumond.
“I can't be upset when we play as hard as we did in the second half,'' Drumond told his team.
Next Matches:
Thursday – Farragut at Soddy Daisy
Tuesday – GPS at No. 1 (D-II) Baylor; Soddy Daisy hosts a district semifinal match
GPS 2, Soddy Daisy 0
Soddy Daisy – 0 – 0 = 0
GPS – 1 – 1 = 2
Goals: GPS; Chadarryl Clay, assist Samira Rahbe; 31st minute; Rahbe, assist Bess Wallis, Sarah Mastery; 70th minute
Shots: SD, 15-9
Saves: GPS, 9-7
Corner Kicks: SD, 8-2
Throw-Ins: GPS, 42-32
Fouls: GPS, 10-2
Free Kicks: SD, 10-4
Goal Kicks: 4-4
Hand Balls: SD, 2-0
Offsides: None
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Goalkeepers: GPS; Simone Busby, 9 saves
SD; Haley Myers, 4 saves
Records: GPS (8-4-2); No. 10 Soddy Daisy (AAA): 11-3-1
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net