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Comets kick off league in style photo by Drew Fleming Last SOC win was during �98 By Greg Stiles EAGLE POINT � The Crater Comets turned the page and began a new chapter Tuesday afternoon. It�s a story they hope will have a much happier ending than the tales of 1999. The Comets launched their Southern Oregon Conference girls soccer season with a 2-1 victory over Eagle Point at Eagle Point Middle School. It was Crater�s first SOC victory since 1998 and the first for second-year coach Terry Fretz. More importantly, the Comets lent credence to their 5-1 non-conference record. "We�ve got a lot more speed up front this year," Fretz said. "With that speed we�re able to put more pressure on the defense." Crater continually peppered Eagle Point�s goal with shots � most of which freshman goalkeeper Summer Adams was able to deflect. But junior midfielder Lindsey Kappell�s 35-yard shot from the right wing hung up long enough to clear Adams then dipped under the crossbar to break a 1-1 tie with four minutes to play. "I thought it was going to be too low, but it worked," said Kappell. Crater�s turnaround has been in no small way aided by fleet freshman forwards Sarah LaFontaine, who has already notched a pair of hat tricks � and Kassidy Reina. The Secret Service couldn�t have guarded LaFontaine closer than the Eagles. "There are no secrets in the SOC," Eagle Point coach Tim Sweeney said. "I was pleased with our defense against LaFontaine. We knew she was coming. "Terra Jackson, Keilah Kruis and Jennifer Logan did a good job on her. Basically, I told them not just to jump in, but to let the first person delay her and then have the second put a body on her and let her know what it was like to play in the SOC." Sweeney knows all about such receptions, watching what opponents did to former Eagle standout Stephanie Lucas, last year�s player of the year. "As soon as Sarah touched the ball, they collapsed on her," Fretz said. "But she just didn�t stand there and watch. When there are three or four people on one, that means two of our players should be open. Sarah sees the other players and makes them look better." Early on, Crater looked better as its stronger defensive line repelled nearly every foray. Becki Doshier was interrupting the Eagles� transition with regularity, while the Comets were taking their shots and creating opportunities off corner kicks. They broke the ice four minutes prior to intermission when Reina hooked a pass from 15 yards to the left of the goal in front of the mouth. Senior Ashlee Richmond toed the ball to the left of Adams to make it 1-0. "We�ve been working on a lot of crosses and I was kind of expecting it," Richmond said. "We�re still learning the game, though. We�re working and communicating better." Reina almost scored moments later, but the half ended before Crater could add to its lead. The second half began in painful fashion for the Eagles when freshman midfielder Alissa Goslin took a blast in the side of the head off Crater defender Tessa Austermuehle�s toe. Goslin, who injured an ankle in Eagle Point�s previous outing, left the field but later returned. The Eagles found the equalizer, not on a close-in attempt, but on a kick from near the midfield stripe. Terra Jackson secured a free kick that had rebounded off a Crater player and dribbled to the middle of the field. She boomed the ball toward the goal. Then when Crater keeper Jessie Foster came out of the net, the ball bounced over her head. "When she gets a little more experience," Fretz said. "She�ll stay on the line, see where the ball is going and then make a run." The Comets promptly turned up the pressure, a sign things have changed. "Crater showed much more determination," Sweeney said. "Last year, if we would�ve scored that goal, they�d have quit. This year, it didn�t faze them. They dominated the second half and kept battering away until we finally broke." LaFontaine nearly broke the tie with a dozen minutes to play when she headed a shot that Adams fell on. But then LaFontaine got knocked out of the match with 10 minutes to play when three players kicked for the ball simultaneously in front of the Eagle goal. One foot arrived just ahead of the other two and LaFontaine hobbled slowly toward the bench as the ball went the other way. Once again, the Comets had a chance to falter. Instead Kappell came through in the clutch. "The more shots we took, the more eager we got," Kappell said. "We were really high those last few minutes." And the Comets have got one in the books for 2000. 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