Youth Sports Report:

Soccer: HCU Girls earn tie late, stay in contention

Posted Jun 20, 2009 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 20, 2009 at 04:14 PM

Emily Dowd scored a second half equalizer to earn Hillsborough County United’s girls under-19 team a point against the D’Feeters at the U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regionals in Dallas on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Jim Cote was pleased his team was able to rally back to earn a point.

“Both teams went at it pretty hard,” Cote said. “We went down a goal, we gave up an own goal with about 25 [minutes] to go, and then Emily Dowd got a [game-tying goal] with about 15 minutes to go.”

HCU almost snatched victory, but Shannon Healy saw her free kick come back off the crossbar just before the final whistle. A win would have reduced the pressure in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Texans a little, but Cote believes a win will be enough to earn his team a berth in the semifinals, either as group winner or as the wild card.

“With a win we’re definitely in,” Cote said. “I don’t think anyone else is going to go 2-0-1. If we come out of there tomorrow with a win and be 2-0-1, I think we’ll be in good shape, and a day to recover.”