The Edwardsburg girls soccer team went from frustrated to happy in the second half of its match Wednesday against South Haven.

Anna Roberts’ goal just outside the South Haven goal box with 15:24 left in the match was the game-winner as the Eddies edged the Rams, 2-1, in Wolverine Conference West Division action.

“Anna just lifted it enough to get over the goalie,” said Edwardsburg coach Brett Harring. “It was a fortunate bounce. But a goal is a goal. That’s all that matters.”

With 31:25 left in the match, Edwardsburg’s Noelle Kraus had a shot inside the South Haven goal box barely stopped by Rams’ keeper Jamie Simonsen. The match remained tied at 1.

“I was really worried after the shot a little bit earlier (by Kraus),” Harring said. “All the girls thought that shot went over the line. I just said to the team that we had to get over it and if that’s a goal we have to score three to win this game.”

Kraus’ goal inside the goalie box tied the match at 1 with 33:59 left in the match.

Edwardsburg outshot South Haven, 8-3 in the first half, but trailed 1-0. The Eddies had a penalty kick hit the crossbar and had four other shots stopped by Simonsen.

“Our focus all year has been to focus on the positives,” Harring said about his halftime message to his team. “We had opportunities to score in the first half and we didn’t take advantage of those opportunities. When you play good teams, like South Haven, St. Joseph or Lakeshore, you have to take advantage of those opportunities. Thankfully, we took advantage of two of our opportunities in the second half.”

Edwardsburg won despite being without injured starters Makayla Shaw (sprained ankle), Gabi Fonseca (ACL) and top reserve Elizabeth Hart (broken arm).

“We’re at a much difference place this year then we were last year,” Harring said. “Last year, we were sad for the girls who were out (four injured starters) and this year it’s been about who’s going to step in and be the next one up. Even though we haven’t been on the field much this year, the girls have been killing themselves in the gym. I commend them for that. We’re doing anything we can to just compete.”

 

South Haven – 1

Edwardsburg – 2

Halftime score

South Haven 1, Edwardsburg 0

 

First half

S – Emma Brzezinski 16:37

 

Second half

E – Noelle Kraus 33:59

E – Anna Roberts 15:24

 

Shots on goal

South Haven 7

Edwardsburg 18

 

Saves

South Haven 6 ( Jamie Simonsen)

Edwardsburg 2 (Alexis Blake)

 

Corner kicks

South Haven 2

Edwardsburg 4

 

Varsity records: Edwardsburg 4-1-1, 1-0 West; South Haven 0-3, 0-1 West