Steamboat Springs freshman Sophie Leeson keeps her eyes on the ball as she pushes it up the field Saturday against Summit. Leeson scored in the game, her first varsity goal and the only goal her team would need on the day. Photo by Joel Reichenberger
It’s not that Sophie Leeson has never scored a goal. She’s a freshman on the Steamboat Springs High School girls soccer team, sure, but she’s played plenty of games of club soccer.
Still, her eyes grew wide and her heart rate picked up after taking a pass from Keelan Vargas on Saturday as the Sailors played at home against Summit.
A lane opened up, a clean 25 yards to the goal, and she charged ahead with the ball, excited, but almost too nervous.
“It was 1-v-1 on the goalie,” she said. “I was really nervous I was going to just shoot at the goalie. I said, ‘I can’t do that! I have to score.’”
She gathered her composure, then rocketed the ball past the keeper’s left hand and deep into the net.
It was good enough for Leeson’s first varsity goal, and Saturday, it was good enough to help the Sailors to a 1-0 win at home against the Tigers.
The win was the second in a row for the Sailors and more evidence the team has found its footing after an 0-2 start.
“Our consistent pattern has been to get a little better every day. From game to game to game, it’s been very positive, great responses,” Steamboat coach Rob Bohlmann said. “We dropped our first two games. The quality wasn’t great. Now, it’s become better. They’re becoming more cohesive.”
Steamboat generated more threats throughout the contest and played one of its best games of the season on defense.
“We also created a lot of opportunities. We feel great about that,” Bohlmann said. “Now, it’s about how can we be a little more efficient putting our opportunities away.”
Original story by Joel Reichenberger appeared on SteamboatToday.com. To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253, email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @JReich9