For the Mount Vernon girls’ soccer team, it may be “bombs away” this spring.
The Mustangs beat West Liberty 5-1 on Friday, April 11, at Armstrong Family Field, with a variety of goals, including a few from long range.
“I think our four forwards can shoot outside the 18 (the penalty box),” Mount Vernon coach Angie Knies said. “If you repeat that over and over, one of them has to fall in, and it did.”
West Liberty scored midway through the first half on a perfectly-placed free kick by senior Pearson Hall.
The Mustangs were dominating play, but found themselves down, 1-0.
“We did drop our heads a little bit, but we were able to fight back and get the momentum back,” Mount Vernon senior Clare Nydegger said.
With eight minutes left until half, Nydegger got her own free kick from about 40 yards out that she placed expertly over the goalie’s head.
Then a few minutes later, Nydegger scored a second goal when Miranda Sellner sent her the ball ahead of the defense, and drew the goalie out. It was 2-1 Mount Vernon at half.
“We try to teach the team, mistakes are not our priority,” Knies said. “It is what you do after it. Our team showed we can play after a mistake.”
Mount Vernon (3-1-1) added three second-half goals to put the match out of reach. Senior Addison Mullis took a cross from Sellner and buried it from right to left.
Sellner then got her own goal after a corner kick rebounded out to her just outside the penalty box and she fired a hard shot that hit the crossbar of the goal and dropped in.
The final goal came from Lillian Gaiser, who converted a penalty shot in the final two minutes.
“We do an awesome job on offense,” Nydegger said. “I think we’ve improved so much this season.”
It was a very successful week for the Mustangs. They beat Clear Creek Amana 3-0 on Tuesday, April 8, in Tiffin. Goals were scored by Nydegger, Sellner and Keira Bergmann.
Then on Thursday, April 10, the Mustangs won at Grinnell, 5-1. Nydegger had two goals and Isabelle Logue, Addison Mullis and Courtney Franck each added one.
“We played gritty soccer,” Knies said.
“And sometimes that’s what it takes. I’ll take a win.”