Great Bend's soccer team wins 3-1

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

 After a school-record comeback against Wichita Heights, Yulisa Valdez’s game-winning goal sparked a second consecutive soccer victory for the Great Bend girls.

Valdez, showcasing her usual unique style, converted the go-ahead goal (62:52) and added an insurance goal (66:17) on a perfect assist by freshman sparkplug Jillian Reimer for a 3-1 victory over Hays-Thomas More Prep.

Valdez baffled the Monarchs with her adept ballhandling skills and aggressive attacks before rocketing her first-half shots high and wide of Monarch goalie Mia Lang.

Valdez adjusted after halftime with a hard, low shot that Monarch goalie Mia Lang was unable to stop. Valdez made a quick twist and rocketed another low shot past Lang for the 2-goal victory in 55-degree weather blessed by a 5 mph wind.

“Yulisa was taking her shots from distance that first half,” said Great Bend coach Margarita Ayala. “She needed to get closer to the goalie. We missed a lot of first-half shots.”

Thursday’s victory came after Valdez ignited a rally from a 4-0 deficit with three consecutive goals in a 5-4 victory over Wichita Heights. Reimer added the fourth goal and Arely Reyes converted the game-winner for the greatest comeback in school history.

Great Bend (2-1) travels to Liberal Monday for a Western Athletic Conference opener after surpassing last year’s 1-win total.

“It was a good effort out there. We’re learning and improving a lot. Jillian Reimer is a really good athlete. Our defense was good today. The only thing that hurts is speed on offense.”

After a scoreless 0-0 halftime tie, Reimer delivered the game’s first signature play with a perfect goal (48:30) for a 1-0 lead.

Monarch standout Macy Ehberle hit the post and skied a shot too high on her first quality attempt. Tessa Befort fed Ehberle for a tying goal (51:13) that beat Great Bend goalie Casandra Enriguez.