It was a cold and windy night on Feb. 17 at the soccer field, but this wintery weather didn’t stop parents and students from coming to cheer for their Mustangs. It was the last home game for SDA and the girls battled within the Valley League against the Canyon Crest Ravens.

Before the game players and parents joined on the field and all seven seniors were honored for their dedication and leadership on the team throughout the years. Becca Kutlow, Lindsey Marshall, Katey Ford, Jess Bloom, Elissa Gibb, Maddie Roberts, and Julia Pederson were all given flowers and recognized for their talent.

After the tears and hugs the girls began what would be one of the toughest games of the season. Within the first 15 minutes of the game the first goal was scored, but by CCA. The Ravens had a corner kick and after a few passes they put one past sophomore goalie Leena Gonzales.

The rest of the half consisted mostly of both teams running up and down the field, desperate for a break. Although both teams were rough and showed no fear in pushing each other, CCA was the dominant presence on the field. Until half time the Ravens had the advantage of more speed driving down the field and tight defense to prevent Mustang goals.

After an encouraging halftime speech from coach Anna Gerber the girls returned to the field, rested and ready. The halftime break did not put a stop to the roughness. At one point sophomore Genesis Castrellonwas hit in the face and had to remove herself from the field due to a nosebleed.

With no goals scored by SDA it was easy to sense the frustration among the Mustangs, but parents and fans were also becoming emotional. One parent in the stands repeatedly yelled to the girls “Come on white! (SDA) we just need one goal!”

In the end the Mustangs were unable to overcome the Canyon Crest aggression and passes and finished with a score of 0-1. Despite the loss the girls walked towards the bleachers to cheering and support from the stands for a tight game and giving it their all.