There was a distinct difference between Aberdeen and Elma and it came in which half of the match they controlled.

After scoring the first goal of the match, Aberdeen held control of the first half. However, Elma tied the match before halftime and outlasted the Bobcats in the second half, 2-1, for a non-league girls soccer win at Stewart Field on Saturday afternoon.

Peyton Elliott blasted home a low corner kick cross in the 54th minute for the game-winning goal. Tayler Housden scored the first goal of the match, giving Aberdeen a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. Molly Johnston tied the match for Elma in the 36th minute.

“It is weird, but we are starting to become a second-half team and I’m not sure why,” Elma head coach Scott Rockey said. “I’m not sure why. We start out cold, then work our way into the match in the second half. We’ve really stepped up our fitness and our endurance really shows. It was a grueler, a hard-fought game.”

“I think fitness is a big issue right now; we’re playing ironman soccer right now (with just one substitute),” AHS head coach Ryan Housden said. “We have three significant players out with injury right now. I think Elma got into (our) heads with their physical play. This (match) is a learning tool.”

Just as much as the majority of the first half belonged to the hosts, Elma held the pace and style in the second half. Taking advantage of the increasing physical nature of the match, the Eagles was on the ball and pressure the Bobcats throughout.

On Elma’s sixth corner kick of the match, Elliott was the recipient of a well-place and well-struck corner kick from Alicia Hook. From the right corner, Hook blasted a low crossing ball that went through several defenders before Elliott slammed it home past AHS goalkeeper Reagan Glanz for the score.

The Eagles (2-1) pressed Glanz and the Bobcat defense for several more minutes in search of an insurance goal, but benefited from the pressure later on. Aberdeen found a second wind with 10 minutes left in the match with forwards Tayler Housden and Aleeta Pratt driving into the Elma penalty area through the middle.

Elma goalkeeper Holli Ray only faced one shot on goal in that flurry and watched her defense send long balls to Glanz at the other end of the field to run out the clock.

Aberdeen’s ball control was effective in the first half, picking apart Elma’s defense. Housden’s run through the defense was rewarded in the 25th minute when Amanda Brandt fed her a leading pass 18 yards from goal. The senior easily outran the defense and slipped the ball past Ray for the goal.

Pratt had two chances later in the first half, but couldn’t get a final touch on the ball. Elma tied the match against the run of play in the 36th minute. On a play nearly identical to the Housden goal, Johnston got a lead pass from Hook in stride and dribbled in for the close shot and goal against Glanz.

On Tuesday, Elma hits the road to take on La Center. On Thursday, Aberdeen (1-2) will travel to Kelso for another non-league game.