Lady Conchs drop soccer opener
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The young Key West High School girls soccer team was outmatched in its season opener Tuesday afternoon, losing to La Salle, 6-0, in Miami.
The Conchs had a difficult time containing the Royal Lions, a team composed of experienced club players that was led by Amanda Tinoco, who scored four goals.
"We knew they would be loaded with higher-level players," said Key West coach Scott Paul. "But this is the best way for us to improve."
The Conchs' Cloe DeVelasco, a senior fullback, had to leave the field with a hamstring injury four minutes into the game. Two minutes later, La Salle scored its first goal on a corner kick.
"An experienced team would have caught that immediately," Paul said. "We are not that experienced team -- yet."
La Salle, which was 12-5-3 last season, scored five of its goals in the first half, mainly because of defensive mistakes.
"Our defensive unit is so young and inexperienced that we are having trouble keeping track of the tougher offensive units," Paul said.
The Conchs lost another player when sweeper Eva Hooten suffered a thigh injury in the second half, but Key West allowed only one goal in the final 45 minutes.
Freshman forward Raquel Schoneck and midfielder Robyn DeRoche played strong for Key West, although they couldn't get the ball past Royal Lions keeper Rebecca Mendoza. "Robyn and Raquel nearly hooked up on some beautiful crosses, but their timing was just off," said assistant coach Dave Mitchell.
The Conchs will play University at noon today at the field behind Key West High.
