Faced with a stiff wind and stiff competition, the Collinsville girls soccer team came up big with a 1-0 victory over conference rival Edwardsville.

Hanna Liljegren in action against Edwardsville March 27, 2014 / Photo by Roger Starkey

With a strong wind out of the south, and gusts over 20 mph, the Kahoks elected to go with the wind in the first half. Head Coach Clay Smith said he always goes with the wind in the first half after once losing a gamble on the second-half wind direction.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” Smith said. “One time I went against the wind and came out of the locker room at halftime and it completely changed.”

The Kahoks (2-1) adjusted their formation to capitalize on their wind advantage, putting three up top, to put pressure on their backs, Smith said.

“Their backs love to get forward and, by putting three up top, you keep them in play.”

Collinsville consistently controlled the ball for the first 20 minutes, nearly scoring when Andrea Frerker crossed a ball for Emily Holten at the 13-minute mark. The freshman combination just missed when the ball skidded out of Holten’s reach.

The Kahoks did not miss their next opportunity. With 23 minutes remaining in the first half, Sophia Sharos headed a bouncing ball that found its way just over the line past the Edwardsville goalkeeper for the only goal of the match. It was also the first goal the Tigers (4-1) had allowed in five matches this season.

The play, which netted Sharos her third goal of the season, was effective, but it was the wrong play.

“I called one play and they ran another, and it worked,” Smith said. “Here I was upset on the sideline that I called something and they ran another one, but they put it in, so I’ll give the girls credit on that one.”

Edwardsville nearly answered eight minutes later when they hammered a shot from close range, but Holly Bluemner made a diving save. Bluemner, who allowed four goals in the opener against Chatam, has now regrouped, Smith said.

Going into the howling wind in the second half, the Kahoks went back to their regular formation and went on the defensive to protect their lead.

“It’s hard not to get in that defensive mode but, with as good a team as Edwardsville is and with that 20 mile per hour wind behind them, you just have to defend,” Smith said.

And defend the Kahoks did. The Tigers controlled the ball for most of the half, but had few quality scoring opportunities. Edwardsville nearly tied the game when Lexi Norton hit a bomb from distance that hit the crossbar and bounced straight down, narrowly missing a goal.

The Tigers entered the match averaging three goals per game, but were held in check by Collinsville’s back four, which was under a bit of fire early in the season, Smith said.

“They’ve had some questions raised to them this season about how good they are going to be and tonight they stuck it to them.” Smith said. “They kept their head and they did well.”

The shutout was the second in two games for a CHS team that will next host Belleville East at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.