WHS GIRLS' SOCCER: Trojans drop opener

WORTHINGTON — Worthington’s girls’ soccer team dropped its season opener, falling to Austin 3-0 Saturday in Worthington.

Austin dominated the early parts of both halves to put the Trojans in a quick hole they were unable to dig themselves out of.

“I’m not sure what that was,” WHS coach Emily Ahlquist said. “Obviously, they came out very strong and our kids had a lot of nerves with it being the first game of their senior year and they were nervous about that.

“We just need to settle it down and play our game.”

Less than four minutes into the game, Austin’s Carley Grunewald was able to put her leg on a bouncing ball in the box and nudge it past the outstretched arms of Trojan goalie Alivia Rowley to make it 1-0.

“I felt like the ball was on their side most of the first half,” Ahlquist said. “We struggled with connecting passes in the midfield and making that first touch and looking up. A lot of the passes, we just got that first touch and hit it just wanting to get it up without making a good connecting pass.

“We did a little bit better in the second half, but obviously not enough to capitalize”

Grunewald’s goal was the lone tally of the first half, but the Trojans were inches away from taking a lead into the second half. Just under the 20-minute mark, Worthington midfielder Lydia Kemper stole the ball, flew down the pitch and blasted a ball on goal from left of the net about 20 yards out that slammed into the crossbar.

Ten minutes after Kemper just missed tying the game, Worthington forward Alina Keodouangsy found herself with the ball in the middle of the box. Keodouangsy fired on net, the ball bounced off Austin goalie Chloe Summerfield back to Keodouangsy, but she fired the rebound wide.

The Trojans wouldn’t get a better look after Keodouangsy’s shot went wide.

Austin came out in the second half firing. Just over two minutes into the second frame, Grunewald found the back of the net from the right side of the goal with a shot into the left corner to make it 2-0. Eighty-six seconds later, Austin’s Nicole Lipari made it 3-0 with a free kick from right outside the box into the upper right corner of the net.

The Trojans were outshot 20-11 in the game, but opportunities were there for WHS.

“We need to work on controlling the midfield, making those good touches and making good passes in the midfield,” Ahlquist said. “We had some nice crosses in and Lydie almost had one go in, but controlling the midfield is what we got to work on the most.”

Worthington will be back in action today when the Trojans host Glencoe-Silver Lake at 4:30 p.m.

Austin 1 2 — 3

WHS 0 0 — 0

Daily Globe Sports Editor Chris Murphy may be reached at 376-7328.

Tags: sports, prep, worthington, soccer, trojans