The wins and goals have been scarce for Mexico girls soccer, but that wasn’t the case Thursday.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated North Central Missouri Conference and district rival Fulton 4-1 at Chris Hotop Field in Mexico. They snapped a nine-game losing streak as Gwen Walker led with two goals, and Bailey Christianson and Kaili Cox each knocked in one goal.

Head coach Brad Norton said Mexico (3-9, 1-4 NCMC) fought and never gave up even after falling behind 1-0 in the sixth minute. Fulton (0-8, 0-4 NCMC) knocked in a goal after the Lady Bulldogs had four goals in their previous nine games. 

Mexico vs Fulton Photo Gallery

“The girls got their heads right and remembered what we talked about,” Norton said. “It was being first to the ball and playing aggressive, challenging the ball if they have it, and finding feet and going into space.”

Mexico demonstrated all of this better later in the first half and carried it into the second half. The Lady Bulldogs only managed a few shots in the first half until Walker scored in the 28th minute off an assist from Marali Herrera-Amaya. 

From the sideline, Herrera-Amaya placed the ball in front of Walker on a breakaway toward Fulton’s goal. Norton said Mexico wanted to score within the first five minutes of the second half to put Fulton “on their heels,” and that’s exactly what happened.

“Anytime you get a goal, it gives you so much confidence,” Norton said. “It gives you energy. For the other team, it takes away their confidence and energy. You need to capitalize on that.”

Walker scored again in the 43rd minute to give Mexico a better start to the second half. It is the freshman’s second multi-goal game after netting a hat trick earlier this season, and she is the team’s leading scorer.

Prior to being a Lady Bulldog, Walker said she has been playing soccer since she was 3-years-old. She is accustomed to many situations on the pitch from her experience, but she said she had further help to transition into the Mexico program.

“My teammates are really good,” Walker said. “They help a lot and are really encouraging.”

Walker said picking up a win after “a hard week” feels good, and the Lady Bulldogs were playing much better.

“In the second half, we were talking more and really passing it purposely instead of kicking the ball,” Walker said. 

Norton is impressed most by how hard Walker fights for the ball, and that is exactly what he wants to see from her. He said he is even more excited that she will be even better in the future.

“Gwen has a nose for the ball,” Norton said. “She’s going to attack the ball wherever it is, which is what you want in your striker. She goes after it, and she goes hard. She doesn’t let people get in her way. She goes through people to get that ball and taking contact, creating contact and accepting contact.”

Mexico wasn’t satisfied with a 2-1 lead heading into the final minute. After a corner kick was launched in front of Fulton’s net, Christianson emerged with the ball and knocked in a goal. Cox booted in a corner kick off the goalkeeper’s hands in the final seconds.

Norton said he is pleased Mexico stayed aggressive until the end and followed the game plan. He said the seniors — like Christianson and Herrera-Amaya — have done well leading the team and did that against Fulton.

“We wanted to keep pressure on their side of the field to keep it easy on our defense and make them tired,” Norton said. “It was a hot day. Everybody was tired and neither of us have a lot of subs because we have small programs.”