It’s homecoming week, and it was parents night for the Albert Lea High School girls’ soccer team.

There was no way, according to coach Paul Marka, the Tigers were giving in without a tough fight against Rochester Mayo.

&uot;The girls played hard,&uot; said Marka. &uot;They went all the way to the end. We just came up a little short.&uot;

The Tigers lost Tuesday’s Big Nine game 3-1 at Hammer field.

While the Spartans outshot the Tigers 15-14, Marka estimated the Tigers had eight to 10 &uot;quality&uot; scoring opportunities.

&uot;We just couldn’t put it in the back of the net,&uot; said the coach.

Stacie Armstrong was the lone Tiger to do so, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead about halfway through the first half.

The Spartans took a 2-1 halftime lead, adding their third goal with about 10 minutes remaining. The lead held despite what Marka called a tremendous effort by his squad.

&uot;We played our hearts out again tonight,&uot; he said.

Marka praised the play of Laura Hillman, Brittany Arendt and Crystal Rentz.

The Albert Lea junior varsity lost 4-0 while the C-squad tied 2-2.

The Tigers, 4-7-1 in the Big Nine and 4-9-1 overall, finish conference play Thursday at Austin.

They host Park of Cottage Grove at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hammer Field in a game that was not on the original schedule.

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports@albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)