By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden girls soccer's second game of the season proved to be a lot tougher than its opener, an 8-0 road romp past Cair Paravel Latin last Friday.
Sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein (19) celebrates her second-half goal, off a corner kick from senior Grace Funk (2), in Tuesday's 3-2 Hayden non-league win over Lawrence Free State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Wildcats got the job done, going wire to wire for a 3-2 win over Class 6A Lawrence Free State in Tuesday's home-opener.
"It was a pretty physical game and I think that caught us a little bit unaware to begin with,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "It took us 15, 20 minutes to get untracked and give (Free State) credit, I think they're a good team.
"But I think we held our own at the end. I think it gives us momentum for the team and I think it's good for them because we've got some new players, and after that first game, this was probably a good result and a good team to play because we're going to play some physical teams and the sooner we learn the better off we're going to be.''
Senior Carsyn Broxterman scored her sixth goal of the season in Hayden's 3-2 home non-league win over Free State Tuesday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 14:11 mark of the first half on a goal from senior Carsyn Broxterman, who now has six goals on the season.
The Wildcats, who got a shutout first half in goal from senior Lauren Borjon, were still nursing that one-goal advantage into the second half before sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein scored off a corner kick from senior Grace Funk with 30:12 remaining to put Hayden up 2-0.
Free State (1-2-1) got back within a goal at the 22:20 mark of the second half on a shot from senior Madeleine Landry, but Hayden picked up some insurance on an own goal with 11:28 remaining.
Free State converted a penalty kick from senior Cara Jeffries with 1:18 remaining to cut its deficit to 3-2, but the Wildcats were able to run out the clock to finish out the win.
The Wildcats will be back in action Wednesday, traveling to Lansing for a non-league game.
HAYDEN 3, LAWRENCE FREE STATE 2
Free State (1-2-1) 0 2 -- 2
Hayden (2-0) 1 2 -- 3
Free State -- Goals: Madeleine Landry, Cara Jeffries.
Hayden -- Goals: Carsyn Broxterman, Hailey Schmidtlein, own goal.
