Marion, weather too much for Sikeston

davidj@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Weather continues to impact the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs soccer team.

After having their game on Tuesday postponed due to heavy rains and flooding, Sikeston dropped their game Thursday night to Marion, Ill., 2-0 in a game that was halted after one half due to lightning.

"It was just a rainy, dreary day," said Sikeston coach Doyle Noe. "We were into the wind in the first half and the girls came out really flat-footed and didn't really come to play today."

Playing their first game in a week, Sikeston played Marion (13-5) even through the first 15 minutes of the game. The Lady Wildcats then broke through with 23:03 left in the first half when Alia Abu-Douleh put the ball past Sikeston goal keeper Sarah Dixon.

Just two minutes later, Abu-Douleh stunned the Lady Bulldogs by scoring on a free kick, giving Marion a 2-0 lead.

"She's a very good forward and good forwards move around a lot and make different runs at different angles to confuse the defense and she definitely did that," Noe said of Abu-Douleh. "We had trouble with her on the outside. She kept beating us on the corner and cut it in to the goal to create chances for them."

As the teams played through intermittent rain showers, Marion kept up the pressure the remainder of the first half while goal keeper Carly Crabtree turned away all four Lady Bulldog shots on goal.

The game was then delayed at halftime when lightning was seen to the east. As the lightning continued to fill the sky, the officials determined to call the game with Marion getting the 2-0 win.

"To beat a good team you've got to come to play," Noe said. "Marion outplayed us for the half and deserved to win."

Sikeston (7-6) is scheduled to play at Poplar Bluff Monday and will host Farmington on Tuesday.

The Sikeston junior varsity girls rolled to an easy 4-1 win over Marion on Thursday.