Esko soccer at .500

The Esko girls soccer team fell to 2-2 on the season on Thursday night with a tough 2-1 road loss in Grand Rapids. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half the Eskomos rallied in the second half, but the clock expired and the Thunderhawks managed to preserve the win.

The Thunderhawks were the beneficiary of two goals by Abbey Birkey in the first half. Birkey’s first goal came just a minute into the game with the second at the 21-minute mark.

Ava Korby cut the lead to 2-1 for the Eskomos at the 54-minute mark, but the Thunderhawks were able to hold off Esko the rest of the way.

“Our off-the-bench players are bringing in the heat and making subbing easy for us,” said Esko coach Caitlin Lilly. “It took us too long to set up in the first half and it didn’t give us enough time to capitalize on opportunities throughout the game.”

Despite the loss, Lilly is seeing some good signs for her team.

“Ava Korby, Avery Kuklinski and Gwen Lilly are all young and dangerous on the attacking end for us,” Lilly said. “Elsa Mowers and Mallory Sunnarborg were physical in the center and Emily Rengo was laying on the shots in the second half from the outside, but tonight we were unable to convert them into goals.”