Once the Mexico girls gained a lead on Tuesday at home, it stuck with them.

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The Lady Bulldogs touched the ball plenty to defeat Eugene 2-1 to bring a four-game losing streak on Chris Hotop Field to an end. Bella Cummings was credited with the game-winning goal after heading it in off a Zoey Norton pass in the 53rd minute for a 2-0 lead.

Mexico (6-10) outshot Eugene (9-7-1) 12-4 and especially dominated in the first half with 10 shots, including seven shots on goal. Head coach Sarah Olson said the defense that consisted of players such as Addison Paden, Kenley Jones, Scottie Smith and Kaili Cox found its way to the ball well as did the rest of the team.

“We’ve talked a lot about — and we’re a little low on subs so a lot of people are tired in some games — giving your all and never giving up on a ball,” Olson said. “When you lose possession, you don’t just stand there and watch the play happen. You come back.”

Olson said Mexico did better when it “found passes” instead of “just kicking the ball” while in possession. 

The Eugene girls acted like walls at various times, especially in the first half, when it took away the ball momentarily from Mexico. The Lady Bulldogs fell down at those times during a game devoid of whistles until later in the first half but usually took the ball back.

“Sometimes, it’s crowded in the middle,” Olson said. “That’s why we typically want the people that are best with the ball at their feet. When it’s crowded, you have to get out of situations but not panic and not just kick it. Get out and then find feet.”

Olson said Norton and Emily Moppin do well in crowded midfields and benefit from having several girls to give the ball. Moppin was given the ball before pushing in a goal in the 32nd minute to correct missing the net wide earlier in the game. 

Mexico corrected missing on header scoring chance in the first half, too, when Cummings stuck her head out on a perfectly placed parabola pass from Norton. Olson said that was definitely a nice-looking goal in a way the Lady Bulldogs don’t usually score.

“We’ve actually worked on throw-ins at practice — only one practice — being productive on them,” Olson said. “One of the things we worked on was to throw to someone, pass back to the thrower and then get something going off that. That’s exactly what happened. For that to happen is exciting.”

Cummings said she hasn’t scored on a header before and had thoughts running through her head while the ball was in the air.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, oh my god,’” Cummings said. “I hit it with my head trying to aim it at the goal and then it surprisingly went over her head and in.”

Olson said headers are “a little scary” and difficult to score on simply because it takes some bravery to throw a vulnerable part of the body out there like that. She was impressed that Cummings stayed with it for the crucial goal.

“The ball is hit with quite a bit of force,” Olson said. “Some of them are hard to judge. With the fear comes, sometimes, just not being smart with it, and sometimes, you just misjudge it. It feels extra nice when you score off a header.”

Mexico lost its rematch last night at North Central Missouri Conference foe Kirksville 6-1 so Cummings said it was nice to bounce back with a win. She said the victory was also nice since Eugene was an even match for Mexico.

“It feels like we hadn’t had a good win in a little bit,” Cummings said. “This is a good team to win against because we’re even score-wise. They’ve lost against some of the same teams we have and won against them, too.

Mexico (2-5 NCMC) hosts North Central Missouri Conference leader Hannibal (11-4, 7-0 NCMC) at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Lady Bulldogs lost 8-0 at Hannibal earlier this season.