GODFREY — While first-year Alton soccer coach Jeff Hayes is the first to admit to the difficulty of winning in the Southwestern Conference, he had no complaints after his team battled O’Fallon to a 1-1 overtime draw Tuesday at the Alton High Sports Complex. It was the SWC opener for Alton.

Hayes, whose team remained undefeated at 6-0-2, is in search of its first SWC victory since 2014. But he said he has no doubts a league win is likely in the offing.

“If we play with the intensity and patience we showed today, the conference wins will come,” Hayes said. “I thought our girls played very well tonight. We made some mistakes, but it’s early. If they learn from their mistakes, they’ll be OK.

“One of our goals is to win the conference,” Hayes said. “We look at the Southwestern Conference kind of like a separate season inside the season.”

For the record, the last SWC victory for the Redbirds was May 15, 2014 when they beat Belleville West 3-2.

Morgan Rauscher’s goal in the eighth minute of the first half gave the Redbirds a 1-0 lead, but O’Fallon (3-2-1) countered with a goal from Sam Stutsman early in the second half.

And that was all the scoring. The teams played two 10-minute sudden-death overtime periods, with no goals to show for it.

“No complaints at all about our effort today,” Hayes said. “There were some factors that affected both teams, but it’s something that both teams have to adjust to.”

Hayes referred to the wind, which blew steadily through the game. The Redbirds played with the wind at their backs in the first half and the Panthers had it in the second. And while the gusts played havoc with flighted balls occasionally, they had little effect on the outcome.

“It’s pretty much always going to be windy up here on top of this hill,” Hayes aid. “t’s just something we and the other teams have to expect.”

The new soccer field at AHS sits atop a hill behind the school building on Humbert Road. It’s adjacent to the new Redbirds baseball field.

Rauscher teamed up with fellow freshman Alaina Nasello for the Alton goal. Nasello fed the ball through to Rauscher, who slipped the ball past goalie Sydney Brake at 33:49.

Alton had other chances early on, but fired the ball just wide or over the top of the goal each time.

“(Rausher) is such a raw talent,” Hayes said. “She’s got one speed – all-out. And (Nasello) is already establishing herself as one of the players to watch out for.

“We took advantage of some matchups early,” Hayes said, “but we didn’t capitalize on any other chances. That’s something that we need to do.”

Early in the second half, a volley by Alton’s Bri Hatfield from about 12 yards was saved by Brake, who deflected it over the goal resulting in an AHS corner kick. In the closing minutes of regulation, Hatfield hit a free kick over the top from about 20 yards.

Also late in regulation, Alton’s Lexi Schrimpf hit a long free kick that Brake bobbled, but the Panthers defense was able to get to it and clear the ball before any damage.

The only chance that was capitalized upon was one by O’Fallon’s Stutsman, whose long cross from about 40 yards out on right wing dipped inside the upper left corner to tie the score 1-1 in the 51st minute. She was assisted by Lauren Cooper.

In the first overtime, Nasello broke in alone on Brake with Rauscher alongside, but the O’Fallon goalie came out to near the edge of the penalty area to make a save.

In the second overtime, O’Fallon’s Gabby Goerke and Stutsman each had scoring opportunities that sailed high.

The Redbirds had one final opportunity with 44 seconds remaining in the second overtime, but a corner kick from Hatfield was cleared out of bounds by the Panthers defense.

Hayes took over as the AHS coach this season following two years as an assistant. He’s also a former boys head coach at Granite City High School. He said that the attitude of his team continues to impress him.

“I’m happy with the work ethic of this group,” Hayes said. “They are winning balls they wouldn’t have won in the past. They’re going hard and not backing off.

“While we might not have capitalized on all our chances, at least we are creating those chances to score.”

ALTON 1, O’FALLON 1, OT

O’Fallon 0 1 0 0 – 1

Alton 1 0 0 0 – 1

Alton – Rauscher (Nasello) 8:00

O’F – Stutsman (Cooper) 51:00

Shots: Alton 9, O’Fallon 7; Corner kicks: Alton 3, O’Fallon 4; Fouls” Alton 5, O’Fallon 4; Saves: Alton (Campbell) 6, O’Fallon (Brake) 8.

Reach Pete Hayes at 463-2500 or Twitter @HayeserPete