SOLON– The bluster of late April winds buffeted Spartan Stadium on Thursday, April 29. The Lady Spartan soccer team, the wind at their backs, held the undefeated Mount Vernon Mustangs scoreless in the first half, but were unable to score themselves leading to a 0-0 tie entering the second half. Solon’s defense held until the final 15 minutes of game play.
Mount Vernon’s Sydney Shultz found the goal with 14:37 remaining in the game on a penalty kick, providing the Mustangs with a 1-0 lead. The wind was not kind to the Lady Spartans following the first score as they struggled to get past midfield battling the air currents.
The Mustangs added points again, capitalizing on the aeronautic spirits, with 8:26 and then again with 4:25 remaining in the game.
Mount Vernon maintained a consistent tempo all game and played delay in the final minutes to ensure the win, 3-0.
“The wind was definitely a factor,” Head Coach Amanda Paulson affirmed. “And I was hopeful we could capitalize early in the first half with the wind advantage. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but I thought the girls handled the elements well.”
Solon keeper Alex Paisley spent all 80 minutes in the goal and turned away seven shots, while Gabby Knipper and Morgan Link both had a shot apiece on the Mustangs’ goal.
The Mustangs took 15 shots, 10 on goal, scoring three times against the Lady Spartans’ defense.
“Mount Vernon did a good job taking away our through balls between their back line players,” Coach Paulson summarized. “This took away a lot of opportunities and should have forced us to play more direct.
“Their first goal didn’t come until about the last 15 minutes,” she continued. “We were playing a 4-5-1 at that point, due to the wind. After the first goal, we switched to a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 after the third. Our offensive push after the first goal opened us up defensively and made us more vulnerable.”
Albeit a loss, Coach Paulson found positive play from several players throughout the game.
“I though Sydney Rissman had a good game off the bench,” she said. “She was a body in the middle and defended well. I also thought Izzy Paisley and Maria Milliman had good defensive games.”
Coach Paulson even found positive performance offensively from her Lady Spartans.
“Offensively, Lauren Bevans and Stella Mesch had good hustle up top,” Coach Paulson added.
The Lady Spartans start the week with a 5-4 record, scheduled to host the Williamsburg Raiders (4-3) at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3, and then the Center Point-Urbana Stormin’ Pointers (5-5) at 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.
Monday, May 10, the Lady Spartans host the West Branch Bears (1-5) at 5:30 p.m. and travel to Independence to face the Mustangs (2-7) at 5:30 p.m. at Independence High School on Tuesday, May 11. On Friday, May 11, Solon travels to the Karr Athletic Complex to battle the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings (4-4) at 7 p.m.
The Lady Spartans host the Clear Creek Amana Clippers (9-0) at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, and visit Tipton High School (3-4) on Thursday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. before welcoming the Iowa City Regina Regals (4-3) at Spartan Stadium on Friday, May 21, at 5:30 p.m.
“I think the biggest challenge coming in the next couple of weeks is the number of games and number of back-to-back games,” Coach Paulson commented. “We have a small roster which doesn’t allow us to rest legs as much as I would like. We will also have some challenging games in the next couple of weeks.”
Statistics for the article are courtesy of https://ia.varsitybound.com April 2.
Lady Spartans fall to undefeated Mustangs, 3-0
May 3, 2021
Jeff Hess
Senior Stella Mesch drives against the wind Thursday. April 29, at Spartan Stadium, during Solon’s 3-0 loss to the Mount Vernon Mustangs.
