By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's girls soccer team had the same game plan for both the first and second half of Wednesday's home match against Lansing.
The Wildcats just did a better job with that plan in the second half, turning a nailbiter into an 8-0 rout.
Hayden, which improved to 3-2 on the season, led 1-0 at the half on a goal from freshman Elaina Wolf, but scored three times in the first 10:42 of the second half to break the game open.
"The emphasis the second half was the same things we emphasized the first half,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "I just think the focus was better the second half. The focus was better both offensively and defensively and when you play good defense you create chances.''
Hayden freshman Lauren Sandstrom (12) battles for possession of the ball in the Wildcats' 8-0 soccer win over Lansing on Wednesday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Freshman Jill Lenherr made the score 2-0 Wildcats with 32:11 left in the second half and sophomore Briahna Barnett scored again just 89 seconds later before junior Kate Roeder scored at the 29:18 mark to put the game out of reach.
Junior Riley Schmidtlein scored back to back goals for Hayden to make the score 6-0 with 17:37 remaining before junior Natalie McElroy and sophomore Sloane Sims ended the scoring with 8:53 remaining.
Hayden sophomore Sloane Sims (5), trying to advance the ball past Lansing's Jessica Gray, scored a goal in the Wildcats' 8-0 non-league soccer win over Lansing Wednesday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Rhen Calhoon posted the shutout in goal for the Wildcats.
The decisive win afforded Kreutzer the chance to get significant minutes for everybody on the Wildcat bench.
"It's good because we're young and we're a little limited on numbers so this gives me the opportunity to find out where everybody fits best,'' Kreutzer said. "That usually takes me five or six games and this is game five.
"I like the opportunity when everybody gets to play. I wouldn't want to play that game every day, but it's good for them and good for their psyche.''
HAYDEN 8, LANSING 0
Lansing 0 0 -- 0
Hayden 1 7 -- 8
Hayden -- Goals: Riley Schmidtlein 2, Elaina Wolf, Jill Lenherr, Briahna Barnett, Kate Roeder, Natalie McElroy, Sloane Sims. Assists: Riley Schmidtlein, Natalie McElroy, Sloane Sims, Elaina Wolf.
