HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Mount Vernon girls' win soccer thriller in DeWitt

Editor's note: Here is your chance to tell your story about your team, your school or your favorite player. If you'd like to join The Gazette's growing list of high school contributors, contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Karissa Benter, Mount Vernon senior

DEWITT - After two overtimes and two rounds of shootouts, the Mount Vernon-Lisbon soccer girls came out with a win against DeWitt Central last  Thursday.

The Mustangs,with four injured starters sitting on the bench, struggled.

With the score still 0-0 after the second overtime, it came down to five kickers against the goalie on each team. In the first round of shootouts, senior Haley Rusk, the fourth of five kickers from DeWitt, scored her shot.  Sophomore Hannah Bradbury was the last of the Mustangs to shoot, and kept the team in the game with her shot.

With the score 1-1, the Sabers still had one more player who could take the lead,  but she was no match for Mount Vernon's junior goalie, Chelsie Minor, who blocked the shot.

The game then went into another shootout. The teams again had to pick five different girls and wait patiently for their turns for kicks on the goal. Sophomore Marci Nielson of DeWitt put the Sabers ahead by one point.

Mount Vernon senior Kristy Minor and junior Lauren Gross showed they were ready to end the game, making their shots and leaving the field with a victory, 3-2.

“When the last PK ball landed in my hands and we won was a great feeling,”  Minor said.  “I feel confident in how the season is going and how the team has come together and I believe this year will be our best season yet."

“I think we fought hard to make it into overtime and the team that wanted it more won it,” said Mount Vernon assistant coach Delaney Krisel. “We are ready to move ahead into our next games with this momentum.”

The girls will continue their season with games  Tuesday at Dyersville Beckman, Thursday at Iowa City Regina away and Friday at home against Solon.