Photos by Joel Kellar | Solon Economist
Farrah Hendricks attempts to steal the ball back from Regina.
IOWA CITY — A thick overcast loomed over the Regina Catholic soccer field. The wind was howling across the field, bringing the feels like temperature well below 40 degrees. The players on the Solon bench were huddled together underneath layers of sweatshirts, coats, and blankets. But those on the field braved the cold to compete, looking to take advantage of the opportunity to start the season off with a win.
“You know, it’s soccer,” said Amanda Paulson the Lady Spartans’ head coach, “It’s always cold and windy and a little bit of rain, maybe snow sometimes. But it’s good to start the season off .”
The Lady Spartans got a wintery-like mix of weather throughout the game. The wind blowing across the field, kept the ball on the side furthest from the stands, and out of the goal. The one goal in the entire game was scored by Regina right before halftime. The Lady Spartans would be shut out the rest of the way to lose their season opening game 1-0. The offense’s lack of ability to find the back of the net was not because they could not get the ball in attack mode. For the vast majority of the first half, it seemed the Lady Spartans were on the brink of breaking through and putting an end to their scoreless start. However, just as it seemed Solon would be able to score, the Regina defense would poke the ball out, or their goalkeeper would snag a save.
“We just need continued reps,” said Paulson, “The more times we can find ball in behind or be dangerous up top the better our odds are going to be.”
Regina was able to gain control of the ball just before 10 minutes remain in the first half. They worked their way down the field for one of the first times of the game, and they were able to take advantage. Regina caught Solon moving slow in transition and forced the Lady Spartans’ goalie Gable Knight into a tough decision; should she attack the ball, or should she sit back and wait for it to come to her?
In hindsight, sitting and waiting would have been Paulson’s preference, but Knight attacked. Regina’s forward pushed through the top right part of the box and swerved her way around Knight. From there on, all that sat between the Regals and a 1-0 lead was green grass. The Regal forward bounced the ball into the back of the net to give them a lead and energize the small home crowd that was held quiet by the cold.
“We’d like to see [Knight] hold position there, but this is her first year so we are just learning the times to step out versus times to hold,” said Paulson, “So a little more aggressive than we would have liked to see, but it happens.”
Laney Johnson almost broke through late in the second half for Solon. They continued to control most of the possessions, but were limited to only a few quality looks at tying the game.
Johnson was able to break free from the stifling Regal defense and she had the opportunity to launch one past the goalie. The ball was launched off her foot and looked like it might be able to sneak in through the goal near the far post almost in the upper corner of the net. However, the Regal goalkeeper made yet another great play on the ball and kept the Lady Spartans scoreless and deflated their momentum late in the game. The City High Little Hawks visit for a nonconference match Thursday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Spartans travel to Cedar Rapids Xavier Catholic Tuesday, April 14 at 5:00 p.m.