By Dennis Bowling
Peotone freshmen Peyton Bisping and Allie Werner each have a very bright future with the Blue Devils soccer program. They each showed a mere glimpse of their ability on March 11.
Bisping, a talented forward, scored the first goal of the game. Werner, a fast forward, managed to score the game winner, to help Peotone edge Beecher 2-1 in a nonconference battle in Beecher.
“Peyton was able to follow up her shot,” said Blue Devils coach Caley Michalak. “Their keeper bobbled the ball. She was able to stay with the play.”
“Oh my goodness, Allie was able to strike the ball really well.,” she said. “She had confidence in that situation. She is doing very well. She’s always running. She has the energy.”
“We were able to clean it up in the second half of the game,” she said. “We were able to find feet.”
With 37 minutes to go in the first half, Bisping found a rebound shot. She was able to kick it past Beecher keeper Taylor Killis for the 1-0 lead.
“It was just good to get an early lead,” said Bisping. “They gave us a great game. I just love to play with Allie. She’s a great player. We can always count on our keeper Jenna (Hunter).”
With 36 minutes to go in the first half, Beecher Grace Durante headed the ball toward the goal. The Bobcats Fabiola Barraza got the ball and was able to kick it past Blue Devils keeper Jenna Hunter to tie the score at 1-all.
“I was looking up,” said Barraza. “I just knew that Grace was going to finish. It was a great goal. Taylor (Killis) played her best game. She made many good saves.”
“Brooke (Jerkaitis) is really fast with the ball,” she said. “Taylor is always talking to her defense.”
Beecher head coach Jonathan Kypuros was quite pleased with the play of Barraza.
“It was a good play,” he said. “Grace got the ball. Fabiola was able to finish the play and put the ball into the net. “
“My hat is off to Peotone,” he said. “Their team played with heart. It was a competitive game.”
With 35 minutes to go in the game, with the score tied at 1-all, Werner from right in front of the net, kicked the ball past Killis for a very exciting 2-1 win.
“I did not have a shot on goal in the first half of the game,” said Werner. “I was really glad to get the lead and the game winning goal.”
“I am very proud of what I am doing in soccer,” she said. “It does take practice and lots of hard work. Peyton is just doing her best.”