The Opener

Opening Night, Game 1 (1-0-0)
22 March vs. SM South (3-0)




First matches are not usually the finest matches the girls will play all year, but this one was pretty stout for the defending State Champs.  And when we bring in Spectrum Sports and HALO to both broadcast the match, that probably injects a bit more focus. But it was cold, rainy and windy—conditions that make the girls' performance even more impressive.

And South is pretty solid throughout their lineup. They should do pretty well in the Sunflower League.

Spectrum's Players of the Match for each team offer up a pretty solid summary of the match. Spectrum named junior goalkeeper, Harper Larsen, the South player of the match—and she gave up three goals. But she saved a ton to keep the match somewhat respectable.

Spectrum named junior forward Sydney Watts the Saint Thomas Aquinas Player of the Match. She produced the game-winning goal 16 minutes in as she pressed the defense and won the deflection. She also had an assist on the second goal that Alexis Scherzer knocked in. 

The Saints also cashed a Sydney Watts corner as Assa just buried the perfect service with a big-time header. So, Watts was part of every goal for the Saints.

South only had 3 shots on goal for the night, and only perhaps another shot during the match. So Saints defended the entire field pretty darn well.

The girls are back in action on Thursday at Blue Valley.

STATS:

Saints:

First Half: Shots: 13 (7) Corners: 3 (O'Keefe, Holton, Watts)

25:59 Watts (Kante serves the long through ball that deflects off defender on Watts' pressure and to the ground and foot of Lindsey)

9:31 Scherzer (J. Hansen brings it forward to A. Hansen who moves it wide for Watt's who t's the ball off the keeper to the back post for Alexis' finish)

Raiders:

Shots: 1 (1) Corners: 0

Second Half:

Saints: Shots: 13 (6) Corners: 3 (Holton, Watts, Scherzer)

34:02 Kante (Watts serves the corner to front-post for the header)

Raiders: Shots: 2 (2) Corner: 1



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