By Kyle Roberts
Ruston’s soccer squads split their district matchups Thursday night with the girls losing 2-1, while the boys won their match 4-0.
Jaiden Langiulli scored quickly with a goal in the first two minutes off an assist from Chris Harps. Koy Tolar added a goal in the 25th minute off a header with Carter Tims assisting from a corner kick.
After taking a 2-0 lead into the half, Langiulli scored off another assist from Tims in the 50th minutes before completeing the hat trick off a free kick 35 yards away in the 60th.
“Overall, I’m very pleased with how we started and how we finished,” Ruston head coach Erich Hankamer said. “The boys played a solid 80 minutes tonight.”
Trenton Richard registered his second shut out of the season.
For the girls, a windy night proved difficult as Tioga took a 2-1 win with all goals in the match coming in the second half.
Neither team scored in the first stanza, despite Ruston have seven corner kicks in the first half.
“The wind was a factor,” Ruston head coach Jacquelyn Bean said. “Tioga came out and had the wind in the second half, and we fell apart for a few minutes.”
Tiago scored first in the second half before Mia Tapia for Ruston scored from a penalty kick that she was able to retake after the keeper came off her line to make the original save. Less than two minutes after the equalizer, Tioga got a shot off from 30 yards aided by the wind that went in.
“It’s a heartbreaker to lose like that, especially when you tie it back up and then go back down a couple of minutes later.”
On Tuesday, Ruston’s girls took a 1-0 win over Franklin Parish at home after Lady Bearcat midfielder Bri McLaughlin scored in the 14th minute off of a corner kick with the assist going to Morgan Foster. It would be the only goal scored of the night.
““Franklin kept us on our toes the full 80 minutes,” Bean said. “We kept to our starters and just kept working what we thought would provide another goal. We came close more than once to a second goal to seal the win, but credit to Franklin for never letting off the gas. The girls were happy to win a match against an opponent they dropped points to last season.”
Finally, Ruston Parks and Recreation is having RPAR Day at Ruston High School Soccer for the Saturday, Jan. 21, homes matches against River Oaks for the boys and Grant High School for the girls.
All RPAR soccer players in their jerseys will be recognized on the field at halftime of each game, and Ruston will recognize the seniors from each team between the games. Concessions will be available.
Details for admission are below:
Soccer players in PAR jerseys – Admitted FREE
Siblings middle school age or younger – Admitted FREE
High School Siblings with school ID – Admitted FREE
Parents and other family members – $5 (includes admission to both games)
