Weather brings end to Helias-Rolla game

The Helias Lady Crusaders and the Rolla Lady Bulldogs tried to beat Mother Nature on Wednesday.

Mother Nature won.

The start time for the game between Helias and Rolla at the 179 Soccer Park was moved up almost two hours in an attempt to get the contest in before the expected showers. But rain started falling during the shortened halftime break and lightning brought an end to the scoreless game less than three minutes into the second half.

"You never know, the weather can sneak up on you," Helias coach Brad Dempsey said.

Because the second half started, the game will end in a tie.

For the first 20 minutes, the Lady Crusaders played well before their attack fell apart the closer they got to the Lady Bulldog net. Rolla then got the momentum the remainder of the half, putting together a pair of good scoring opportunities.

"They started taking it at us," Dempsey said.

The Lady Crusaders are in the process of changing a few things in their style of play and that likely has something to do with the struggles.

"Our girls always try hard, we're just having problems applying what we're doing in practice to the game," Dempsey said.

A positive from the day, according to Dempsey, was "we got to come out and struggle."

"It's a positive because that's what happens in the regular season," he said. "You go through struggles because it can give coaches and players the opportunity to learn about what they need to do to improve. And we can learn from this."

Even in the short time of play in the second half, Dempsey saw some good things.

"If it means anything, I thought we were headed in the right direction," he said.

Helias (3-4-1) is back on the road for two games early next week, playing Monday at Kirksville and Tuesday at Hannibal.