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Independence, MO —
Quantity became quality, and eventually a second win for the Blue Springs girls soccer team Monday.
The Wildcats put 12 shots on goal – three times as many as Truman – and had several more scoring threats as they posted 2-0 win over the host Patriots.
Junior forward Beka Lowrey connected for Blue Springs’ first goal late in the first half, and Shilah Rainey benefited from a deflection for an insurance tally in the 67th minute as the Wildcats improved to 2-7-1.
Lowrey and Blue Springs coach Doug McLagan said the win was a big confidence booster for a team that starts just one senior.
“It was a neck-and-neck game the whole way through,” McLagan said. “Our second win and our first shutout. It was a good win for the girls.”
“It means a lot to us,” Lowrey added. “We were connecting passes and working well together. It was a really good game.”
Lowrey’s goal, her second of the season, came at 30:43 when she chested an air ball north of the box and left-footed a 25-yarder over the reach of Truman (6-5) goalie Maya Coen.
Moments earlier, Lowrey had a much better look from close range after a nifty give-and-go with Bailey Hensley, but that left-footer was well wide.
“Usually I’m right-footed, but I seem to score often with my left foot,” Lowrey said. “I was just taking a chance (on the long shot).
“My teammates were teasing me – that I can’t make it from four yards but put it in from 40, or however far it was.”
Lowrey nearly got her second goal midway through the second half, but her header off a corner kick was high.
After securing possession in Truman’s territory much of the second half thanks to takeaways and crisp passing, the Wildcats doubled their lead at 66:27. Hensley sent a ball from the corner into the box, and Rainey’s redirect attempt got tipped by Truman defender past a helpless Coen.
For McLagan, he could finally breathe easy.
“I felt we should’ve scored more in the first half,” he said. “We had several chances but couldn’t put it away. (The Patriots) stepped up their game in the second half, but we controlled the midfield. The second goal, to get that distance, it was a relief.”
The best of Blue Springs goalie Alyssa Scholl’s four saves came in the 24th minute when she tipped away a header from Amber Young. Thanks to the Wildcats’ possession game and the Patriots inability to string together many scoring chances, Scholl had a less eventful night than Coen, who kept the Patriots in the game with 10 saves and numerous other collections.
“Blue Springs is one of the better teams we’ve played,” Truman coach Jared Byrne said. “We were just making simple mistakes. When we gained possession, we gave it away. Just simple stuff today, and they just outworked us.”
Quantity became quality, and eventually a second win for the Blue Springs girls soccer team Monday.
The Wildcats put 12 shots on goal – three times as many as Truman – and had several more scoring threats as they posted 2-0 win over the host Patriots.
Junior forward Beka Lowrey connected for Blue Springs’ first goal late in the first half, and Shilah Rainey benefited from a deflection for an insurance tally in the 67th minute as the Wildcats improved to 2-7-1.
Lowrey and Blue Springs coach Doug McLagan said the win was a big confidence booster for a team that starts just one senior.
“It was a neck-and-neck game the whole way through,” McLagan said. “Our second win and our first shutout. It was a good win for the girls.”
“It means a lot to us,” Lowrey added. “We were connecting passes and working well together. It was a really good game.”
Lowrey’s goal, her second of the season, came at 30:43 when she chested an air ball north of the box and left-footed a 25-yarder over the reach of Truman (6-5) goalie Maya Coen.
Moments earlier, Lowrey had a much better look from close range after a nifty give-and-go with Bailey Hensley, but that left-footer was well wide.
“Usually I’m right-footed, but I seem to score often with my left foot,” Lowrey said. “I was just taking a chance (on the long shot).
“My teammates were teasing me – that I can’t make it from four yards but put it in from 40, or however far it was.”
Lowrey nearly got her second goal midway through the second half, but her header off a corner kick was high.
After securing possession in Truman’s territory much of the second half thanks to takeaways and crisp passing, the Wildcats doubled their lead at 66:27. Hensley sent a ball from the corner into the box, and Rainey’s redirect attempt got tipped by Truman defender past a helpless Coen.
For McLagan, he could finally breathe easy.
“I felt we should’ve scored more in the first half,” he said. “We had several chances but couldn’t put it away. (The Patriots) stepped up their game in the second half, but we controlled the midfield. The second goal, to get that distance, it was a relief.”
The best of Blue Springs goalie Alyssa Scholl’s four saves came in the 24th minute when she tipped away a header from Amber Young. Thanks to the Wildcats’ possession game and the Patriots inability to string together many scoring chances, Scholl had a less eventful night than Coen, who kept the Patriots in the game with 10 saves and numerous other collections.
“Blue Springs is one of the better teams we’ve played,” Truman coach Jared Byrne said. “We were just making simple mistakes. When we gained possession, we gave it away. Just simple stuff today, and they just outworked us.”
