WILLMAR -- A slow first half by the Worthington girls' soccer team left it with a 3-0 deficit at halftime on Thursday against Willmar, and despite an attempted second half comeback the team ended up recording its second successive 5-1 loss.
"At halftime I basically told them 'Forget about the score for the first half, we have 40 more minutes to go, let's use this as exercise, I want you guys to get something done for me.'" head coach Smitty Ektnitphong said. "I issued a challenge. I think by not trying to even the score right away, and using this second half as an exercise to try to work on some of the things we need to do it was different because the kids were more at ease, they did not have to hurry to score or set up the offense right away."
The fresh approach to the second half paid off six minutes in when Alina Keodauangsy scored to make the score 3-1. Nicole Ektnitphong set up the goal by beating a defender and sending a through ball to Keodauangsy, who cut around an advancing goalkeeper and slammed the ball into the empty net from almost 15 yards away.
WHS's only goal in Tuesday's match came from the reverse combination of the same two players.
"I think we can expect a lot of good things coming between these two," Smitty Ektnitphong said.
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The Trojans continued to play a close second half until with six minutes left the Cardinals scored a fourth goal, adding a fifth before time expired.
Andrea Amundson saved eight shots in goal for Worthington, the late goals she allowed not detracting from her coach's praise of her play on the day.
"I was really quite pleased with the way they turned things around, but we cannot fall behind so much, and realize we need to clean up something and get back to what we need to do," Ektnitphong said. "And I believe the girls are understanding it, but whether it gets executed in an upcoming game, that remains to be seen.
"This is a really good indication that if everybody focuses on what they're needed to do they can get it done."
The Trojan play Saturday at the Mankato Loyola Invite.
WHS 0 1 -- 1
WIL 3 2 -- 5
