By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Wednesday was both a terrible and great day for Hayden's girls soccer team.
The Wildcats' season-opener was played in frigid, wet, windy conditions, but Hayden scored nine second-half goals on the way to a 10-0 win over Centennial League rival Topeka West at the Sunflower Soccer Complex.
Hayden's girls soccer team tries to stay warm as coach Klaus Kreutzer talks to the Wildcats during halftime of Wednesday's season-opener against Topeka West. Hayden took a 10-0 win at the Sunflower Soccer Complex. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Kate Roeder scored the only goal of the first half to give Hayden a 1-0 advantage and the Wildcats scored early and often after the break, getting a pair of goals from Bri Barnett and Elaina Wolff while Natalie McElroy, Sloane Sims, Lauren Sandstrom, Jill Lenherr and Janessa Broxterman also found the back of the net.
Hayden sophomore Lauren Sandstrom advances the ball in Wednesday's season-opener against Topeka West. Sandstrom scored a goal in the Wildcats' 10-0 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Elizabeth Dunshee was credited with three assists and Abby Dodd two for the Wildcats while Macy Smith and Hannah Schmitz combined for the shutout in goal.
Veteran Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said it was nice to get the season off to a good start despite the tough conditions.
"It is good to get started because we practiced over spring break and practice is only good for so long,'' Kreutzer said. "I wanted to play a game.''
It took the Wildcats a while to get cranked up, but Hayden got better and better in the second half, ending the game by the 10-goal spread rule late in the contest.
"I think they were a little bit skittish (early), plus we played into the wind and I think that caused us a little bit of difficulty and it was the first time we played real opposition, and I think that's part of it,'' Kreutzer said. "I'm glad we got to play, bad weather and all.''
Topeka West coach Josh Kutter was pleased with his team's performance in the opening half and said the Chargers may have run out of gas in the late going.
"We had a really good first half,'' Kutter said. "Our defense played strong and we played as well as we've played in a long time for our first game and our first half of the season.
"I think we ran out of gas, but we're happy to take away the experience in what we learned and we'll make corrections and keep going.''
HAYDEN 10, TOPEKA WEST 0
Hayden (1-0) 1 9 -- 10
Topeka West (0-1) 0 0 -- 0
Hayden -- Goals: Barnett 2, Wolff 2, Broxterman, Lenherr, McElroy, Sandstrom, Sims, Roeder. Assists: Dunshee 3, Dodd 2, Sims. Shutout: Smith, Schmitz.
