3/2/23
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
With one loss already hanging over the heads, Alma senior Demetrio Cerda didn’t want to face his teammates following a second loss.
At home, no less.
So Cerda found just enough of a crease in Sallisaw’s defense and fired home the game-winner with 1:46 remaining in Tuesday night’s nonconference battle at Citizen’s Bank Field at Airedale Stadium.
Woosh!
“That really hit us the first game back, taking that L (Monday’s loss to Heavener),” Cerda said. “We had to bounce back and win the next one.”
Cerda assured the Airedales of just that scoring three times in the team’s victory. The roller-coast game featured two lead changes and two ties - all in the final half.
“You’ve got to go out and take it to them, and that’s pretty much what we preached at halftime,” Alma coach Cory Sturdivant said. “For us to be down 3-1, and to come back and score five in the second half, that’s a testament to the grittiness of this group.”
Down 2-0 at the start of the game, Seth Canales punched home the first score in the 34th minute, and then late in the first half, Carlos Gonzalez scored in the 39th minute to pull the Airedales to within 3-2.
Cerda took over in the second half, scoring his first goal of the season in the 56th minute to tie the game at 3-3.
Elliott Resinos put Alma ahead, 4-3 in the 6th minute, and Cerda’s goal, with an assist from Gonzalez, put the Airedales ahead, 5-3.
Game over?
Well, not quite. Sallisaw responded with two late goals to the game at 5.
Cerda, with an assist from Gonzalez, then put Alma ahead for good in the 79th minute.
Alma 6, Sallisaw 3
GIRLS - The soccer season isn’t but two games old. But Tuesday’s 6-3 come-from-behind victory could go a long way in the turnaround of the Alma Lady Airedales.
Alma combined for just four wins in the previous two seasons and will carry that momentum into Thursday’s battle with Sylvan Hills.
Presli Taylor, last season’s goal leader with 11, had her first hat trick of the season as the Lady Airedales rallied for their second win in as many days.
Isabella Carbonia’s corner kick led to Yoseline Gonzales’ goal, helping Alma cut the lead to 2-1.
Taylor, with an assist from Olivia Reed, scored Alma’s next two goals, both coming in the final moments (37th and 38th minutes) of the first half.
Taylor put Alma ahead for good in the 49th minute, and Marti Lineberry’s first career goal in the 54th minute extended Alma’s lead to 5-3. Teagan Thrasher, who scored four times in Monday’s victory, assisted Lineberry.
Reed's second goal of the season accounted for Alma’s final score.
Keeper Rachel James had nine saves on the night.