EVANSTON — The Evanston High School girls’ varsity soccer team suffered a stinging defeat at home to Rock Springs on Tuesday, April 24. The 4-0 loss leaves the Devils with a 2-10-2 record on the season. 

The Rock Springs ladies took the field with energy, taking shots and forcing Evanston keeper Bailey Porter to make multiple saves within the opening minutes. Rock Springs senior Kristin McCrann opened the scoring in the 14th minute. 

Porter saved another shot on goal by Rock Springs sophomore Annika Syvrud before a free kick taken by junior Kia Comstock went just over Porter’s head and fingertips to find the back of the net and give Rock Springs a 2-0 lead with 19:38 left on the clock. 

Evanston’s best opportunity of the first half came with a shot taken by midfielder Hannah Davis in the 30th minute, which was saved by Rock Springs goalie Alyssa Vigil. 

Rock Springs came out fighting again after the break, although Evanston managed to hold them off for the first 20 minutes of the half. A frenzy of activity in front of goal forced Porter to make multiple saves in the 25th minute of the match. 

Rock Springs junior Delia Griffin made it 3-0 Tigers with the help of an assist by Syvrud, driving the ball untouched into goal. 

The Devils’ fate was sealed when a penalty kick was awarded following some shoulder-to-shoulder contact in the box resulting in a foul call by center referee Jamie Bardsley. 

Senior Madison Miksulin converted the penalty shot into a 4-0 lead for the Tigers with 6:13 remaining on the clock. 

It was an overall disappointing performance from the Devils, and head coach Chuck Grenfell said the team didn’t perform as he had hoped they would and he wasn’t pleased with the performance. 

At least some of the lackluster play by the Devils was likely mental. “Rock Springs’ reputation precedes them,” said Grenfell. “They’re a very good physical team. They’re a tough team for us to handle both physically and mentally.” 

Despite his disappointment, Grenfell said he has “100 percent faith in these girls.” He said a lot of this season has been a cultural change with a change in coaching staff and a young team. 

“We continue to grow technically and tactically,” he said. “We’re getting there, slowly but surely.” 

The next challenge for the girls comes on Friday when the Devils take on the Green River Wolves. 

Grenfell said the last time the two teams met the Devils had a 2-0 lead with five minutes remaining in the match, only to wind up with a 3-2 loss. 

“I fully expect them to come over here and give us the game of their lives,” said Grenfell. “We’re going to work our butts off to keep them from it.” 

The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, April 27, at the Evanston Middle School field.