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A goal off a penalty kick by Uma Hornish was all South Pasadena High could come away with following a 1-1 tie against rival San Marino Friday to open the Rio Hondo League girls’ soccer season.
The Tigers are now 7-2-1 overall while San Marino stays unbeaten at 10-0-2.
Hornish gave South Pasadena the lead with her first half goal while San Marino scored in the second, also off a penalty kick.
Tigers’ goalie Noemi Howland was busy in goal making 16 saves in the contest.
In the tense battle, which saw South Pasadena players Emma Barrera and Hornish get yellow cards and Rainey Tilley a red card, Tiger defender Jade Myer left the game with a concussion.
“We had to make more adjustments to our lineup due to Jade’s absence and other lingering injures,” explained second year coach Tory Lathrop. “We started to concede more space in the midfield and our defensive end as the Titans pushed for a goal to equalize. We unfortunately gave up a foul in our own 18-yard box.”
The referee awarded the Titians a penalty kick but South Pasadena senior goalkeeper Noemi Howland came up with a big save to maintain the Tigers’ lead at the beginning of the second half.
But the Titans kept pounding at the door and eventually knotted the score in the second half.
“We really struggled to find our rhythm as a group and push out of our defensive end,” said Lathrop. “On a San Marino corner kick we failed to clear the ball well and Tilley gave up a hand ball in the 18 yard box.”
She was given a red card and the Titans converted the goal to even the game at one apiece. Tilley was forced to leave the game.
“We then had to play the remaining 25 minutes without a full 11 eleven players,” noted Lathrop.
The Tigers did have a chance to win in the final moments as Hornish and the Titans’ goalkeeper fought for the ball from about 25 yards out. The ball ricocheted back towards the Titan goal before Hornish took a hard shot, the ball just missing the goal post and passing the end line.
“For a team that ended up playing with 10 players and faced several injuries, I’m glad we got the tie,” said Lathrop. “It’s not how I envisioned starting league but I expected San Marino to be competitive as they hadn’t lost a match in preseason. I’m proud of Uma Hornish for stepping up to convert our penalty kick and Noemi Howland did a great job keeping the Titans at bay.”
She praised the play of Barrera, who played well defensively.
South Pasadena plays it’s next two games at home, hosting Temple City on Tuesday and La Canada Thursday, both starting at 3:30 p.m.
SPORTS UPDATE
Boys Soccer
South Pasadena boys soccer team looks to battle for the league title after getting off to a 7-0-1 record in the preseason.
Girls’ Water Polo
South Pasadena High is set for Rio Hondo League play after recording a 2-3 mark in the preseason.
Girls Basketball
South Pasadena High’s girls’ basketball team is preparing to face Temple City on the road in Rio Hondo League action. The Tigers recorded a 3-10 mark in the preseason.
Boys’ Basketball
South Pasadena, 1-13, hopes to start turning its season around when it travels to Temple City on Tuesday for a Rio Hondo League contest.
