Eagle soccer falls in district opener

The Arlington girls soccer team's season ended in a Nov. 3 district game against Shorewood.

SHORELINE — The Arlington girls soccer team’s season ended in a Nov. 3 district game against Shorewood.

Despite a scoreless first half and plenty of back-and-forth by both offenses, it was only the Thunderbirds who found the goal in the game at Shoreline Stadium, defeating Arlington 2-0.

Both goals came after Arlington suffered a key loss in the midfield when an injury took junior Jessica Van Loo out of the game early in the second half.

Shorewood freshman Hannah Clements put the Lady Thunderbirds on the scoreboard in the 47th minute, with an arching kick from about 35 yards out. The ball came in from such a distance that only Arlington keeper Chelsea Boulton had a real chance to defend the ball. It flew over her hands.

While Arlington played a persistent offense for the rest of the half, only Shorewood would score again, with their second goal headed in off of a restart.

Though the Eagles were eliminated in the first round, it was Arlington’s third straight appearance at the district tournament and their first in 4A after competing in 3A the two previous seasons. Coach Nathan Davis credited those playoff runs to the team’s graduating seniors, Erin Taylor, Amanda Wreggelsworth, Katy Giebel and Kristen Allen.

“I’m proud of the seniors,” he said. “We’ve had three straight years in the playoffs and this is the first group to do so in awhile.”

If the entire squad returns next year, Arlington will have seven experienced seniors to lead the Eagles to another district run.