The Mexico girls will be looking for progress this season.

Mexico vs Jefferson City Photo Gallery

The Lady Bulldogs saw some in the form of a goal in their season opener on Friday at home at Chris Hotop Field but ultimately lost 6-1 to Jefferson City. Emily McMillian scored four goals for Jefferson City, but Claire Hudson’s score for Mexico a minute deep into the second half gave the Lady Bulldogs their first goal against the Lady Jays since 2009.

Mexico (0-1) did go years without playing Jefferson City (1-0) since the three meetings over the last three years but were outscored 13-0. The Lady Bulldogs were shut out in the first three games of last season too but won’t have that hanging over their heads after the opener this time.

“Claire is pretty skilled with her footwork and is able to get past people,” Olson said. “She took it pretty far out, and it was perfectly placed over the top of the goalie. It shows we were in the fight, and it wasn’t a scrappy goal but rather a skilled goal so it was a really good moment for us as a team.”

Olson said Hudson won’t hesitate whenever she has an opportunity to score, and after Mexico managed two shots in the first half, Hudson saw a window to kick through to cut Jefferson City’s lead in half at 2-1. At that moment, Olson said the field seemed to be “wide open” when Jefferson City gave the Lady Bulldogs some space.

Moments like this didn’t happen all night, Olson said, as Mexico didn’t advance into the offensive zone as effectively in the first half. The Lady Bulldogs were in positions to score in the second half when Emily Moppin had a couple close calls on a penalty and free kick, but more girls were ready to attack the Jefferson City defense.

“Something we talked about at halftime was moving up as a team,” Olson said. “When we just kick the ball and hope we can get it, we become unsuccessful because we don’t have everyone up. Obviously, you can’t score goals when you’re not up as a team, but a lot of times, it takes quick passes and people moving. They put that into place right away.”

Olson said the offense is in better shape at the start of this season than it was last season but still had the tough task of facing Jefferson City, who won 12 games a year ago and has 10 seniors listed on the varsity roster. The Lady Jays’ experienced girls strung together passes, which in turn, became a string of goals in the five minutes following Hudson’s goal.

Katie Mullen converted on a penalty kick in the 43rd minute and then McMillian, who netted a hat trick in Mexico’s 6-0 season-opening loss a year ago, booted in a pass from the corner for her third of the night.

“They had a couple good quick buildups where our bodies were not turning fast enough, and we couldn’t keep on top of it,” Olson said. “They focus on being really skilled with things. They don’t just go crazy and get a goal. They sit back, they relax and go for it when they can. Those kinds of teams are hard to play against.”

Olson said Mexico had to go without its starting goalkeeper Katie Crews for the opener so that meant Hudson saw some time as the junior varsity goalie, and freshman Kaili Cox minded the net for varsity. Jefferson City tallied 27 shots, and Cox made 12 saves.

Several times, Cox was staring down the Lady Jays as they were making a breakaway before she stood her ground to make a stop. Even with McMillian having a hat trick, Cox threw toward her to thwart her attack.

“She was fearless in there,” Olson said. “The game might have been over a lot quicker if she hadn’t been there.”

Mexico has three home games in March and also the Chris Hotop Classic near the end of the month to begin the season. The Lady Bulldogs host California next at 5 p.m. Monday before a quick turnaround the next night against Fatima.

The Lady Bulldogs made progress as Friday’s game wore on, and Olson believes there will be more this season, pointing out that many of the girls stayed after the game to ask for ways to improve.

“It’s a good group of girls, and they want to be better,” Olson said. “I appreciate that always.”