Undefeated Independence girls’ soccer team possesses the ball and climbs up the rankings

INDEPENDENCE — There’s a phrase the Independence girls’ soccer team plays by.

“Keep calm and possess the ball.”

It’s simple, but effective.

The Class 2A No. 4-ranked Mustangs (10-0) are off to a blazing start with an aim to repeat as a Wamac Conference division champion — and more.

Independence defeated conference-foe and 1A 10th-rated Center Point-Urbana 3-1 earlier this week.

“We were able to kind of manage the game and, you know, possess the ball,” Independence Coach Shawn Conaway said. “That's what we aim to do every game … possession, possession, possession.

“If you have the ball, it makes it pretty hard for them to score on you.”

Speaking of scoring, through nine games, Independence has outscored its opponents by an absurd margin of 56-6.

Leading the Mustangs in scoring is junior Easten Miller, who entered Friday tied for third in 2A with 20 goals.

Her approach to offense echoes Conaway’s sentiments.

“Possess the ball until you have an open shot,” Miller said. “We're not trying to rush anything, just keep it calm, as Coach Ben (Lange) and Sean always say. Just keep it calm, let the ball do the work and good things will happen.”

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“She’s (Miller) prolific,” Conaway said. “When she has the ball, she's dangerous, and you know, I reiterate to the girls all the time, don't look to score, look to be dangerous.

“If you can find yourself in dangerous spots, you can be dangerous. And Easten’s just a natural for it.”

Offensively, Miller and other scorers are aided by 2A’s assists leader, sophomore Addison Lange.

“Addi is always looking for the open player and is amazing at feeding balls through,” Miller said.

As a team, the Mustangs rank third in 2A in goals and assists.

Defensively, Independence is led by sophomore goalkeeper Lindsay Beyer. She had 37 saves in the team’s first nine games and a save percentage of 86.

“Lindsay’s a great communicator backing goal for the defense,” Conaway said. “And you know, if you have communication, if you're the loudest team on the field, you solve a lot of your own problems as far as not making blind turns or knowing what’s around you.”

“I don't think our defense gets enough credit for as much as they do,” Miller said. “I mean, sometimes they're the ones that save our butts, to be honest. And our goalkeeper, Lindsay, she's one hell of a goalie. I wouldn’t trade her for anyone.”

The Mustangs are sophomore-loaded. Of the 12 players to score a goal this season, nine are sophomores. In fact, Miller is one of just four upperclassmen on the roster.

“We're obviously pretty young,” Miller said. “I just think that our chemistry on the field is awesome once we get into a rhythm.

“The sophomores, they're fun to be around. They're energetic. They're always competing.”

While young, the Mustangs don’t lack experience.

Sophomores Olivia Albert and MacKenzie Wilson were second and fourth on the team, respectively, in goals last season. Beyer also was the Mustangs’ starting goalkeeper as a freshman.

“It's a tremendous young group,” Conaway said. “We had good success last year. We’re a year stronger, a year smarter and we keep working on the little things to fine-tune.”

The Mustangs have their sights set on qualifying for the program’s first state tournament. As for what they’ll need to do to make it happen …

“I think we just need to do what we always do,” Miller said. “Just keep calm and possess the ball.”