Things looked different early when the Odessa High and Permian girls soccer teams faced off for the second time this season in District 2-6A play.
The Lady Bronchos looked more aggressive in the midfield and that helped them jump out to an early lead.
They couldn’t maintain that through the entire contest, however, as Permian came away with 5-2 win Friday at Ratliff Stadium.
“I think we walked into this game thinking that we hammered them 5-0 in the first game and they’re at the bottom of the standings, ‘What can they do to us?’,” Permian coach Chad Peterson said. “They showed us what they can do to us.”
Although Permian moved the ball around more in the match’s early minutes, the Lady Bronchos looked faster in their attacking as most of their lineup shifted forward.
Cassie Ramirez gave Odessa High a confidence boost when she sent a direct free kick high into the Permian goal, giving the Lady Bronchos a lead 19 minutes into the contest.
Permian tried to respond immediately after going down on the scoreboard and almost tied the match up with a strike from Nyxalee Munoz.
The shot was saved on the line by Alexia Hernandez, who played a big part in helping Odessa High stay solid in its defending through much of the first half.
Odessa High continued to build on its momentum when Ramirez found the back of the net again on another direct free kick, this time sending the ball low into the bottom left corner of the Permian goal.
“It was great to see Cassie get those opportunities and put them away,” Odessa High coach Cecilia Kellar said. “I know she’s been putting a lot of pressure on herself and to see her convert those was a real positive for her.”
After that, the Lady Panthers showed their quick-strike ability and got themselves back in the contest in about two minutes.
Permian cut the two-goal deficit in half when a Mya Gonzales cross from the right wing found Munoz in front of the Odessa High goal.
Munoz wasted no time placing the ball in the back of the net to give her team an attacking jolt.
Gonzales then showed her ball control skills and weaved her way through the Lady Broncho defense and converted a one-on-one opportunity to tie the match up at 2-2 with a little over a minute left until the break.
Those tying scores helped the Lady Panthers take over and regain their attacking flow through the second half.
Munoz went on to complete hat trick with two goals after the break, while Gonzales added one more to her tally.
Peterson said having a duo like Gonzales and Munoz helps his team, but he felt that his players sometimes wait too long to let things develop through the attackers.
“We’re sitting and we’re waiting for everything to happen just right,” Peterson said. “Instead of starting from the opening whistle, forcing, defending, pushing and pressing like we know to do.”
Odessa High struggled to get its attacking going again as the match wound down.
Kellar said depth ultimately played a role in her team losing stream after grabbing the first lead.
“We’re not very deep, we’re suffering a little bit on the bench,” Kellar said. “Permian has a lot of speed and I thought we did a really good job.
“I don’t think our effort diminished, I just think we got a little tired.”
Permian (10-3-3 overall, 6-1-2 district) next faces Midland High at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ratliff Stadium, while Odessa High (2-17, 0-10) travels to meet Midland Legacy at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland.
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
