Luann Elhers admitted that some parts of the Palisade girls soccer team’s game need to be addressed after Thursday’s 2-2 double-overtime tie with Rifle.

But the second-year head coach feels much better about the Bulldogs’ performance after scoring twice in the second half to force the extra 10 minutes of play.

“The difference is we played 100 times better,” Elhers said of Palisade’s play after halftime, at which point they had fallen back 2-0 to visiting Rifle.

“The defense was marking up, and we were playing better as a team. I’m extremely proud of the way we played in the second half (and) in the overtimes. That’s the kind of team that they are.”

Rifle took advantage of Palisade’s confusion in the first half to score both of their goals.

Freshman Ciara Euler netted the game’s first goal when she raced down the left side unmarked for a shot that beat Bulldogs goalie Amelia Davis to the near post midway in the half.

Junior Caitlin Clay upped the Bears lead to 2-0 with an unassisted goal with about eight minutes left in the period.

“We weren’t ready for the first half. I thought we were. But we weren’t,” Ehlers said.
A stern talk to the team by the coaches during the break roused the Bulldogs into action.

Lindsay Yeates broke inside the 18-yard box for a goal. Anna Thiesing drove a shot past a maze of Rifle and Palisade defenders for the tie in the 63rd minute.

Pressed into overtime after 17 minutes of frustration, Yeates came within a whisker of scoring the game winner a couple of moments into the extra frame.

After working deep inside Rifle’s goalie box, Yeates booted a ground-hugging shot toward the right post that Bears keeper Abby Schmidt got just enough of a piece on to stop the ball’s momentum.

The ensuing corner kick after Schmidt’s save was shooed harmlessly away by Rifle’s defense. Palisade had another strong offensive build in the second overtime period, but Euler cleared to maintain the tie.

Now, due to spring break, the Bulldogs will be inactive for 11 days before resuming league play at home with Delta County on March 18.

“We’re in a terrible position. But we’ll be ready,” Ehlers said.