Sikeston's Jordi Ferrell battles a Notre Dame defender for possession of the ball in the first half Wednesday night at the Sikeston Sports Complex. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

By David Jenkins ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs soccer fell victim to an unlucky break Wednesday night, losing to the Notre Dame Bulldogs 2-1.

With the game tied 1-1, Notre Dame's Courtney Luehmann sent a shot toward the Sikeston goal with just under 10 minutes left to play in the game. As the Lady Bulldogs goalie, Amber Minner, scooped up the shot attempt, the ball ricocheted off her knee and Notre Dame's Anna Wren kicked the ball into the back of the net for the game-winner.

Sikeston's Ariel Reynolds kicks the ball downfield Wednesday night against Notre Dame. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat) [Click to enlarge]

"It was a good game," said Sikeston coach Derrick Long. "They're a really good team. I hate seeing how they got that game-winner. It was kind of a misplay by our keeper, but it wasn't out of lack of effort. She came up on it, and it just took a bad bounce off her knee."

Sikeston played Notre Dame even in the first half as neither team could get any kind of offense going. The game was scoreless going into the break.

However, with just over two minutes gone in the second half, Wren scored the first goal for Notre Dame off an assist from Mindy Siebert.

"That first goal, (Luehmann) kind of barreled through the whole box and we didn't clear out," Long said. "Little things like that against good teams, you've got to be on your game all the time defensively or they are going to bury one. We kind of got behind the eight ball after (Luehmann) went through there and Anna (Wren) put in a good goal."

Sikeston didn't quit and continued to try to put the pressure on Notre Dame. With 14:33 left in the game, the Lady Bulldogs finally broke through when Abbi Keefer scored off of an assist from Katie De La Rosa, tying the game.

"Just fighting back and getting back in the game was big," Long said. "We took a couple steps forward tonight. We needed to score to show that we can play with these teams that are at the top of our district."

Long said he thought moving De La Rosa into a more offensive position helped Sikeston.

"There at the end we moved (De La Rosa) up from sweeper and she kind of gave us a spark," Long said. "She's kind of fiery anywhere she plays."

De La Rosa wasn't the only Lady Bulldog to shine while playing a different position Wednesday night.

"I thought Ariel Reynolds stepped back at sweep and played a heckuva game back there in a spot she hasn't played much," Long said. "And I thought we got a good game out of Ashley Angle on that outside defender. We've been playing her midfield all year and moved her back and she helped solidify our defense.

"I've got a lot of injuries and we're pretty much playing with 12 players and I think we played real well."

Sikeston (6-10) will be back in action today when they travel to Marion, Ill.