PREP GIRLS' SOCCER: Trojan girls drop close game against Mankato Loyola

MANKATO — Worthington’s defense was in top form against Mankato Loyola on Saturday, but the team’s inability to spark much offense led the Trojans to end up with a 1-0 loss in the contest.

WHS held the Crusaders to seven shots on goal in the game, but managed only four shots on goal in return.

“We were struggling on the offensive side,” WHS head coach Smitty Ektnitphong said. “At times we just couldn’t connect the ball up to Alina (Keodouangsy) and really get the pressure on their defensive side. That’s something as a young team we’re going to have to learn and grow from it, but overall it could have gone either way.”

Mankato Loyola’s goal was scored 26 minutes in when Elizabeth Ninneman worked the ball into the penalty area and unleashed a shot that found the top-left corner of the goal before Worthington goalkeeper Alivia Rowley could get a hand to it.

In the second half the Trojan defense only allowed two shots on goal.

“I though we hung in there as a group quite well in the second half,” Ektnitphong said. “We just didn’t do a good job of creating opportunities for ourself to be able to get an equalizer to tie the score up.”

Ektnitphong mentioned that Nikki Russell had a particularly good performance in defense in the game and also commended co-captain Bernadette Boever’s leadership in the back line and the play of Valeria Cano, who has only recently shifted to play in defense.

Worthington will be on the road today against Fairmont and Tuesday against Mankato West. The team’s next home game will be Sept. 24 against Austin.

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