Mount Vernon girls’ soccer was a big favorite in its Class 2A regional opener Friday, May 17.
The Mustangs showed why, too, beating Oskaloosa 9-0 at Armstrong Field.
“We didn’t want to be too confident,” senior Kennedy Moore said. “We knew we could win, we just had to play well. It took us a second.”
The first 20 minutes was a bit of a slog, with neither team able to do much offensively.
Then sophomore forward Lillian Gaiser converted a pass into a goal, and Moore followed suit.
Gaiser had a breakaway goal a few minutes later, and the Mustangs went into half up, 3-0.
“The first 20 minutes were shaky; it took us a while to get going,” Mount Vernon Coach Brandon Savage said. “Once we got that first goal, the momentum was always going to come with that.”
The Mustangs then poured it on in the second half, adding six goals to bury Oskaloosa (3-11). Adding goals were freshman Timber Scholl, sophomore Isabelle Logue (2), and junior Clare Nydegger (3).
Assists were credited to freshman Miranda Sellner (4), sophomore Adeline Whisner (2) and Logue and Gaiser each had one. Junior Cana Safo kept a clean sheet in goal.
“We were firing on all cylinders,” Savage said. “We had struggled to finish lately and have focused on that in practice. If we finish, we win games.”
Next, things get difficult. Mount Vernon (10-7) traveled to No. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-4) on Tuesday, May 21. The winner plays Thursday, May 23, at a site to be determined. The other half of the region includes Marion (9-6) and No. 11 Clear Creek Amana (10-5).
“Xavier is a tough team, with a lot of club players, and they are always good,” Moore said. “I know if we play well, we have a chance.”
MV girls’ soccer advances to post-season
Ryan Suchomel, Sports Reporter
May 23, 2024
About the Contributor
Ryan Suchomel, Sports Reporter
Ryan Suchomel is a sports reporter for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.