Lady Bighorns take out Reno

Oasis Academy’s Lady Bighorns continued their winning streak Saturday, taking out the Reno Lady Huskies 14-8 at home.

Reno started the match with a goal in the first five minutes. Oasis, though, was quick to respond with Maiya Swan, Brooklyn Whitaker and Taryn Barrenchea scoring a goal each and pushing into the lead. The Lady Huskies tied the game, though, thanks to quick footwork by Michael Miller and Kaitlyn Fagg. The rest of the first half was a stalemate ending 6-6.

Oasis broke the tie at the start of the second half. The Lady Bighorns won the draw, and Whitaker quickly placed the ball into the goal within the first two minutes of play. She was followed by Swan scoring another goal. Miller came around for a goal past Oasis’s Audrey Rasmussen, but the Lady Bighorns responded with back-to-back goals from Sadie O’Flaherty and Barrenchea. The Lady Huskies shot a final goal before Oasis overwhelmed their offense.

Oasis coach Lisa Swan said they had a slow start but took off once they “hit their groove.” She said their defense was put together and the players were moving faster on the field.

“The girls did great,” Swan said. “They worked their fakes, they worked their non-dominant hand, they ran fast. It was a great game.”

Whitaker, one of the team’s captains, also felt the game went well. She said they did well on the field and played strong defense with good offensive plays; O’Flaherty and Maiya Swan were especially noted for her attacks and scoring.

“She’s always ready, like if you drop a ball, she’s always there to put it right in the hole,” Whitaker said of Maiya.

The Oasis captain praised her coach and attributed their success to her; she said the team wouldn’t be where it is today without Swan.

“We may do the playing, but everything we know and what we do on the field comes from our coaches,” Whitaker said.

She said their goal is to stay undefeated all season and be No. 1 in the state.

Coach Swan and Whitaker both noted the team needs to work on ground balls. Swan said they need to get low on ground balls and work on switches; she recalled Reno scored a number of goals running the crease.

Tonights game against Truckee was rescheduled due to the death of retired Truckee coach Bob Shaffer. According to Swan the game was moved to April 28. Weather permitting, the team is expected to play Galena tomorrow at 1 p.m.