By Fred Kroner
Cayla Koerner and the Mahomet-Seymour girls’ soccer team set the tone early on Thursday (April 7) and raced to victory at Middletown field over Charleston, 10-2.
“M-S opened with possibly the fastest goal in M-S history,” Bulldog coach Jeremy Davis said.” In high level, somewhat esoteric strategy, the Bulldogs dropped the kickoff backwards and kicked it real, real hard over the heads of the defense.
“Cayla Koerner ran onto it and scored 12 seconds into the game. The Bulldogs continued to control the flow and continued to put the pressure on Charleston getting up eight in the first half.”
Koerner continued her prolific start to her senior season. She racked up five goals to go with three assists. Through six matches, she has netted 21 goals and assisted on 14 others.
Brea Benson had her best match of the spring, adding two goals and four assists.
Amelia Osman contributed one goal and two assists. Lauren Schnepper and Sidney Young each notched one goal. Shaelynn Standifer registered one assist.
On Saturday (April 9), M-S built a 3-1 halftime lead at home over Washington in a match where there was no scoring in the second half.
Koerner collected two goals. Benson had a goal and an assist. Delaney King also added an assist.
“The Bulldogs came out once again on fire,” Davis said. “In the first 30 seconds of the game, M-S took it from their own defensive third and in a series of short passes worked the ball in behind the Washington backline.
“Brea Benson was able to send the entry pass to a sprinting Cayla Koerner. Koerner was able to seal her defender off to score the opener.
“In their best test to date, the Bulldogs did well controlling most of the game and outshooting and out-possessing Washington.”
M-S kept its focus and intensity the remainder of the half.
“The Bulldogs cooled down, if only you consider slightly molten igneous rock cool, to go into up half 3-1,” Davis said. “Midfielders Delaney King and Brea Benson were able to consistently get connected with the attackers in the final third throughout the day.
“Both have had an impressive spring, and played big in a big game. Brea scored the second goal, in addition to that first assist. Delaney King rounded out the assists for the Bulldogs on the day. The backline has continued to play well in each of the games controlling their zone.”
M-S (6-0) has outscored its opponents 44-4 and returns to action on Tuesday (April 12) at Lincoln. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in Apollo Conference matches.
On Thursday (April 14), M-S will play at Mattoon in a showdown between schools which start the week with unbeaten records.
The M-S junior varsity (7-1 record) defeated Charleston, 8-0 and Washington, 6-0, with Young registering five of the goals against Washington.
