date and time will be announced later. (Gary Stallard/AC Press photo)
Facing the No. 1 JUCO soccer team in the nation, Angelina College’s Lady Roadrunners were playing lights out – literally.
With the teams locked in a scoreless draw at Jase Magers Field in Lufkin, officials suspended the match in the 35th minute because of a faulty light bank in the far corner of the pitch. The Lady ‘Runners had just earned a corner kick, but officials and coaches agreed visibility was an issue, leading to the match halt.
“The sun hadn’t gone down when the game started, so I don’t think either of us coaches even noticed the lights out at first,” AC head coach Freddy Drago said. “We were both so focused on the game, it wasn’t until the corner kick that we noticed how hard it was to see on that part of the field.”
The Lady Roadrunners were in the process of holding their own against the high-powered Lady Apaches. AC’s Jade Dewbre and Leslie Saenz teamed up on a strong run straight off the opening kick, with Dewbre’s shot sailing wide. Dewbre and Kennedy Sessions led another assault on the goal just 12 minutes later, with Dewbre’s shot carrying over the crossbar.
In the 14th minute, Tyler’s attack broke through for an open look at the net, but AC defender Ryleigh Smith offered a spectacular header to knock the ball away. Smith, along with fellow defenders Kaela Stripling, Alexis Barrientez and Bianca Perez, helped keep the Lady Apaches off the scoreboard with solid play on the back line.
Finally, in the 30th minute, Saenz got a great look and smoked a shot toward the net, only to see Tyler keeper Megan McGath turn up the diving save.
Angelina College and Tyler Junior College soccer coaches wasted no time in finding a makeup date for Wednesday’s suspended match.
The teams battled to a scoreless draw over the first 35 minutes, only to have officials suspend the match because of a faulty light bank in the far corner of the field.
The rescheduled match will now take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Jase Magers Field at Lufkin High School.
