And they’re off
Lady Mustangs score 3 early goals in 9-1 victory over Uniontown
Busting out of the gate in a good position greatly increases a racehorse’s chance of winning, and Laurel Highlands lived up to its nickname in the Lady Mustangs’ 9-1 victory over cross-town rival Uniontown on Monday in a Section 3-3A girls soccer match at Mustang Field.
Laurel Highlands scored three times in the first six minutes and 16 seconds before putting six into the back of the net in the second half.
The Lady Mustangs improved to 1-1-0 in section play and 3-1-0 overall.
Camryn McClean scored at 37:57 of the first half for a 1-0 lead on Laurel Highlands’ first shot on target. The Lady Mustangs had a shot go wide of the cage prior to McClean’s tally.
Senior captain Adrianna Walker scored her first of four goals at 35:34 of the first half before recording the brace at 33:44 for a 3-0 advantage.
Laurel Highlands put 10 shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of play. The home team also earned three corner kicks in the early stages of the match.
“We want to keep progressing as we continue throughout the season,” Laurel Highlands coach Si Mon Mulindwa said. “I am happy with how the girls played tonight. They did really well in the first 10 minutes to get a lead, and they also possessed the ball and moved it well.”
The Lady Mustangs put three more shots on target and had two go wide of the net but still maintained their three-goal cushion at the half-way point of the first half.
Uniontown keeper Kendal Nehls stopped 11 shots in the first half, and 12 total, before Abby Horner took over with approximately 30 minutes remaining in the second half. Horner made four saves.
“If you take into account the number of shots on goal versus the number of goals that went in, you really have to value yourself and what you did do versus what you didn’t do,” Uniontown coach Emily Baker said. “We had some possession in the latter part of the first half after we scored. We will play them again, and I like the opportunity we have to play these teams twice a season because we like to see how we progressed from the first time to the second.”
The Lady Red Raiders (0-1-0, 0-5-0) sent several long balls into the final three of the field in the opening 20 minutes, but Laurel Highlands’ backline prevented any sustained pressure.
Uniontown capitalized on its first significant scoring chance when senior captain Sarah White won a free kick from 34 yards out, and she lobbed a shot that hit off the hands of freshman keeper Addison Stroko and into the net to cut the deficit to 3-1 with 9:22 remaining in the opening half. White had a second shot that was wide left of the goal, as the Lady Red Raiders went into the halftime break with momentum.
“She (White) is definitely more grounded on this team and has a lot more experience,” Baker said. “This team has been a team that has not had a pinnacle foundation for years. We have a solid group of underclassmen that are growing and building a lot of chemistry, and supporting a lot of the upperclassmen who have had some years of experience.”
The Lady Mustangs took away Uniontown’s momentum in the early stages of the second half, as Walker set up freshman Ella Doman at 38:10 for a 4-1 lead. Doman struck again for the brace with 34:04 remaining for a four-goal advantage.
“It was nice to see Ella do well as a younger player,” Mulindwa said. “We had many girls contribute, but it is great to have younger players stepping up, so they can come right in and be ready when called upon.”
Laurel Highlands substituted Stroko for Amelia Michael in the second half. Stroko is a freshman and Michael a sophomore. Stroko stopped one shot and Michael four, as the Lady Mustangs’ backline limited the Lady Red Raiders’ chances in the final third.
“After we got up early, I took off the first team and brought in the second team to give them experience to follow in the footsteps when the seniors graduate,” Mulindwa said. “I want to give them the chance to better themselves so they can do well in the upcoming seasons.”
Senior captain Taylor Irwin got in on the scoring with a goal at 24:31 of the second half that pushed Laurel Highlands’ lead to 6-1.
White had a shot travel wide right before Walker completed the hat trick with 16:30 remaining. Walker’s fourth came at 13:45 before McClean’s brace closed the scoring at 11:30 of the second half.
Doman, Irwin, Ava Ruvalcaba and Jakylah Dressel had one assist apiece.
Uniontown’s Eleanor Carei put a shot on target with 4:40 remaining, but Michael made the save.
The Lady Mustangs had a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.