PLEASANT VIEW — Weber and Syracuse High’s girls soccer teams switched the start time of their game on Tuesday, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 o’clock, so it would be cooler because of the heat.

In theory, that plan worked because the temperature dipped from a blistering 93 degrees in mid-afternoon to a balmy 92 at first kick.

Action was hot and heavy on the field, where the teams combined for seven goals, with Weber winning 4-3 in the Region 1 opener for both schools.

Weber junior Callie Price scored two goals, including what proved to be the game-winner in the 71st minute.  

“I just saw Maci Rackham getting ready to cross and I knew I could get that ball in the back of the net; so I was ready to head it, got to it and did it,” Price said. “I practice that a lot; I work on my finishing with my dad almost every weekend, so it’s good to see it pay off.”

Turns out it’s a family affair as Price’s mother, Lei Anne, is Weber’s head coach.

“It’s nice to spend time with her at practice and the games because I don’t see her at home as often between school work and my other soccer team. It’s great. I think she pushes me harder because I’m her daughter,” Callie Price said.

Sophomore Ellie Lund scored a brace, as she and Price alternated goals for Weber (2-2, 1-0 Region 1).

The Warriors took a 2-0 lead (Lund, Price) by the 29th minute, but Syracuse rallied with a goal from Abby Affleck only four minutes later and a score by Avery Sanders just a minute into the second half.

“Up two goals, I think we got overhyped and a little lazy. We need to be on our toes when they come back and be stronger,” Callie Price said. “We’ve been working on mental health with quotes every Monday to get our heads in the game for 80 minutes.”

Lund’s second goal made it 3-2 for Weber, but Cortney Cobabe countered for the Titans in the 66th minute to knot things up at 3-3, then Callie Price scored the deciding goal five minutes later. 

Unfortunately for Syracuse, its game plan against the Warriors panned out about the same way as the time change on the pitch.

Allowing four goals in a high school soccer match won’t result in many wins, a fact not lost on Syracuse (3-3, 0-1) coach Taylor Allen.

“Incredibly disappointing. The girls gotta find a way… take personal offense having four goals scored against you,” Allen said.  “This seems to be a trend we’ve got to fix really quick, because we can score. I’ll have to look at the shot chart, but I thought we had more dangerous opportunities than Weber. We just have to hold the other team down.”

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