GUSTINE — The Gustine Reds didn’t flinch when the match tightened, and junior forward Kaylee Giles made sure they didn’t leave empty‑handed. Her second‑half penalty kick proved to be the difference Thursday afternoon as the Reds (3-11) edged the Waterford Wildcats 2-1 in a tense home victory.

Gustine struck first behind senior defender Jaclynn Lopez (#8), who pushed forward early and drilled a clean shot into the net to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. But Waterford answered quickly. Sustained pressure from the Wildcats forced a foul inside the box, setting up a penalty kick that slipped just past a diving effort from the Gustine keeper to even the match at 1-1.

The rest of the first half unfolded as a tactical grind. Gustine generated several promising attacks, but Waterford’s backline held firm, turning away multiple chances and keeping the match level at the break.

The second half brought a shift in urgency. Both teams hunted for the go‑ahead goal, but it was Gustine that finally broke through. Awarded a penalty after drawing contact in the box, the Reds turned to Giles (#16), who stepped up with poise and buried the shot to restore the lead at 2-1.

From there, Gustine’s defense locked in. The backline absorbed Waterford’s late pushes and shut down counter‑attacks over the final 20 minutes, preserving the Reds’ third win of the season.

Gustine now heads to Merced for a road matchup against Stone Ridge Christian on Thursday, Jan. 29, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.