Speedy Turtles Show Heart in TST Opener, Ready to Bounce Back

The scoreboard may have read 0–4, but the Speedy Turtles showed flashes of grit, teamwork, and resilience in their opening match against Hope Solo’s powerhouse Solo FC at The Soccer Tournament (TST). In a game that tested their defensive depth and mental toughness, the Turtles held strong for much of the match and are already regrouping for a critical double-header in Rounds 2 and 3.

The first half was a defensive clinic for the Speedy Turtles, who frustrated Solo FC’s attackers early. Goalkeeper Justine Thompson made three key saves to keep the game scoreless well into the half. The Turtles were disciplined, focused, and played clean soccer with zero fouls.

But just when it looked like they would head into halftime on level terms, Solo FC managed to break through. Marissa Vasquez netted the opener, followed almost instantly by a second from Maggie Cagle in a quick momentum swing. Still, the Turtles never lost composure.

Despite being outshot in the first half, the Turtles came out of the break energized. They flipped the tone with more aggressive play, launching three shots on goal and applying pressure on Solo FC’s back line. Though they weren’t able to convert, their second-half surge showed the kind of fight that defines this squad. Their increased urgency also resulted in a few fouls—evidence of their refusal to back down.

Defensively, the Turtles held Solo FC to just one goal in the second half, a solo effort from Katie Shae Collins at the 37:55 mark. That goal brought regulation to a close with Solo FC up 3–0, triggering TST’s signature “target score time,” where the first team to score one more than the leading score wins. At 44:56, Collins struck again on an assist from Cagle to seal the win for Solo FC.

But the Turtles aren’t hanging their heads.

With two group stage games remaining, the Speedy Turtles still control their own destiny. They return to the pitch tomorrow morning at 8:45 AM EDT against SLC FC, followed by a high-stakes matchup at 8:00 PM EDT against Albion SC. Both games will stream live on YouTube, giving fans another chance to cheer on one of TST’s most determined teams.

If today’s second-half energy is any indication, the Speedy Turtles are just getting started.