By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four-time defending Class 6A girls soccer champ Blue Valley West made two first-half goals stand up for a 2-0 non-conference road win over Washburn Rural at McElroy Field Monday night, but Rural coach Brian Hensyel saw plenty of positives after his Junior Blues dropped their first game in seven starts on the year.
"One of the things I just told (the team) is after seven games last year we were 4-2-1 and this year we're 6-1 and we've played a very tough schedule and we're not going to back away from that,'' Hensyel said. "You have to play this team to kind of see what level you're at and we were right there today.
"We gave up a couple of bad fouls and they hit two amazing shots. They might have had a few more chances than us but it was kind of a back and forth game for the most part and a couple of little mistakes cost us.''
And although the Junior Blues suffered their first loss, Hensyel said Rural made strides.
"We got better today,'' Hensyel said. "We lost the game and the scoreboard doesn't say we got better today but playing a really tough team like that helps us.''
Washburn Rural freshman Kate Hinck (middle) battles Blue Valley West's Devin Monohan (left) and Sophia Raudez in Monday's game at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Belle Kennedy advances the ball Monday night as Blue Valley West's Addison Griffey (8) and Ashley Reecht (12) defend. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Junior Blues put together their best scoring threat of the night in the opening minutes, but Rural was unable to find the back of the net.
"The opening whistle we came out with a lot of energy and I thought the first 15-20 minutes of the game it was back and forth with both teams creating chances,'' Hensyel said. "There was a lot of good stuff going on and if you get that early goal then that maybe changes the complexion of the game a little bit.''
Blue Valley West senior Grace Bartlett scored the only goal the Jaguars would need at the 21:16 mark of the opening half and junior Alexis Morrison added the game's final goal at the 10:41 mark.
Blue Valley West and Washburn Rural battled to a standoff after halftime, but the Junior Blues were unable to score, with Jaguar freshman Zinesh Holt earning the shutout in goal.
"We've got things we can work on, but it was OK,'' Blue Valley West coach Alex Aiman said. "Coming up here and playing them, they're a good team and they put a lot of pressure on us.''
Like Rural, Blue Valley West tries to top load its schedule with tough games to get ready for later in the year.
"That's a win-win,'' Aiman said. "Even if you lose you know you're getting ready for the playoffs, absolutely. (Rural's) a good team and we're happy to come play them.''
Washburn Rural faces a quick turnaround, traveling to Seaman Tuesday for a 6:15 p.m. Centennial League game.
BLUE VALLEY WEST 2, WASHBURN RURAL 0
Blue Valley West 2 0 -- 0
Washburn Rural 0 0 -- 0
Blue Valley West -- Goals: Bartlett, Morrison. Shutout: Holt.
