The Decorah girls’ varsity soccer team (2-1) continued the momentum this week as their second match of the season brought them their second victory, before falling Saturday.
The Decorah girls’ varsity soccer team (2-1) continued the momentum this week as their second match of the season brought them their second victory, before falling Saturday.
Home pitch
Thursday’s game saw the Lady Vikes besting the North Fayette Valley TigerHawks (0-2) at home, 4-2.
At the game’s offset, things looked to be in the TigerHawks’ favor. In the fifteenth minute, the Vikes couldn’t clear the ball from their goalbox before NFV could send it into the net for the first goal of the match. Decorah kept up the pressure after that, responding just a few minutes later with an Amelia Dugger corner kick bouncing straight off the NFV goalkeeper, leaving Ellen Rooney to score off the rebound.
The pressure kept up at the onset of the second half, with Ella Grouws sending a through ball down the pitch, leading to multiple attempted shots for Decorah. Karen Henriquez was able to connect on an opportune rebound, scoring the Vike’s second goal.
Decorah’s final two goals were both sent in by junior Grace Neal, who capitalized on a blocked clear by Bella Bishop and a through ball from Sara Johanningmeier to get into shooting range. Both shots made it past the TigerHawk goalkeeper to find the back of the net, winning the game for Decorah 4-2.
“We need to clean some things up, but we are starting to play a little more cohesively,” Coach Loren Hendrickson said. “I hope the upward trend continues!”
Saturday’s action
On Saturday, the Lady Vikes went up against Dubuque Senior (2-1) at home, taking their first loss of the season to the Rams, 3-1.
Dubuque turned the tide in their favor early on in the ninth minute, getting their first goal after putting pressure on the Decorah goal box. A second goal came not long after when the Rams took a shot from the top of the box.
Decorah had the chance to turn it around early in the second, when a Bella Bishop free kick rebounded off Amelia Dugger and was mishandled by the Rams’ goalkeeper, allowing Ellen Rooney to send the ball into the net for the Vikings’ first point of the match.
Before the Vikes could score again, however, the clock was winding down and the Rams were awarded a penalty kick from a foul in Decorah’s goalbox. Dubuque was able to send the kick into the net, ending the game in their favor, 3-1.
“Dubuque was just a shade better than Decorah in sharing the ball and connecting passes,” Coach Loren Hendrickson said. “I think our girls are progressing, but need to step up even more in the coming weeks if we are to compete with teams like Dubuque Senior.”
Next competition
Monday (April 11) the Vikes were at Independence. A recap of that match will be published in the Decorah Public Opinion Thursday, April 14. Decorah will travel to Gladbrook-Reinbeck Thursday, April 14, for a 5:30 p.m. start.
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