By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's girls soccer team got off to a slow start in Monday's Class 4A-1A regional opener, but finished fast, advancing to a regional final with a 6-0 romp past Ottawa.
It took the host Wildcats, now 10-7-0, nearly 15 minutes to get on the scorebord and nearly 25 minutes to add another score, but Hayden was in control 3-0 at the half and turned the game into a rout with three second-half goals.
Hayden junior Kate Roeder (right) gains control of the ball in Monday's 6-0 regional soccer win over Ottawa as Cyclone freshman Allie Dillon gives chase. Roeder had a goal and an assist in the win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Riley Schmidtlein scored the only goal the Wildcats would need at the 25:18 mark of the opening half and sophomore Sloane Sims made the score 2-0 at the 15:06 mark before freshman Jill Lenherr put Hayden in command 3-0 with 8:27 left in the half.
Sophomore Briana Barnett scored a pair of second-half goals for the Wildcats, sandwiched around a score from junior Kate Roeder.
Hayden sophomore Briana Barnett, who scored a pair of goals in Monday's 6-0 regional win over Ottawa, chases after a loose ball. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TS
"We did have a slow start,'' Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. "Sometimes these games are a little bit tough, but we picked it up the second half a little bit. I think we made some better decisions.''
Schmidtlein and Sims were credited with two assists apiece for Hayden while Roeder and junior Natalie McElroy also picked up assists.
Seniors Rhen Calhoon and Olivia Schmitz combined for the shutout in goal for the Wildcats.
Hayden's decisive margin allowed Kreutzer the opportunity to get his starters some rest while making sure that a lot of players got some playing time.
Next up for the Wildcats is Wednesday's 6 p.m. regional final at Bishop Miege. The Stags (11-6-0) advanced with a 10-0 win over Tonganoxie.
"I've always believed that they've worked all season to get here and you like to give everybody an opportunity to play and I was looking to the next game,'' Kreutzer said.
HAYDEN 6, OTTAWA 0
Hayden (10-7-0) 3 3 -- 6
Ottowa (4-11-2) 0 0 -- 0
Hayden -- Goals: Barnett 2, Schmidtlein, Sims, Lenherr, Roeder. Assists: Schmidtelin 2, Sims 2, Roeder, McElroy. Shutout: Calhoon, Schmitz.
