By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Nic Simons knows that his Shawnee Heights girls soccer team still has work to do, particularly on the offensive end.
But a 4-0 home victory over United Kansas Conference foe Leavenworth Thursday night and a 7-2-1 record overall are proof that the young T-Birds, who have just five seniors, are headed in the right direction.
Leavenworth senior Audry Barnes (15) battles Shawnee Heights sophomore Kalyn Walter for the ball in Thursday's United Kansas Conference soccer match. Walter scored a goal in the T-Birds' 4-0 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights struggled much of the night to capitalize on scoring opportunities, but got the only goal it would need on a shot from freshman Ariana Smith with 9 minutes, 58 seconds left in the first half.
"When we played these guys last time they really stifled us the first half, similar to how they did tonight,'' Simons said. "But we broke through with that early goal and it seemed like we played a little bit more relaxed once we got that goal.''
The T-Birds went through another long dry spell after Smith's goal, but heated up late in the match, scoring their final three goals over a span of 9 minutes to put the Pioneers away.
Sophomore Lily Martin made the score 2-0 with 14:40 remaining and sophomore Kalyn Walter scored 2:28 later before sophomore Isabelle Sanchez tacked on the final goal with 5:40 remaining.
Sanchez and sophomore Emily Loy were credited with assists for Shawnee Heights while junior Tatum Hoge picked up the shutout in goal.
"It's been a struggle a little bit on the offensive end for us, but I feel like we're kind of starting to find our rhythm,'' Simons said. "We're creating the opportunities and every game our sophomores that play up top are maturing and getting better and I think it's starting to show.''
Leavenworth senior Sadie Dipman (23) tries to control the ball as Shawnee Heights senior Emma Manrose (16) applies tight defense in Thursday's 4-0 T-Bird win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 4, LEAVENWORTH 0
Shawnee Heights -- Goals: Ariana Smith, Lily Martin, Kalyn Walter, Isabelle Sanchez. Assists: Isabelle Sanchez, Emily Loy. Shutout: Tatum Hoge.
