By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Hayden's soccer team had a perfect Thursday night against Baldwin, shutting out the Bulldogs in a complete 4-0 team victory at Hayden.
Hayden freshman Reese Huscher (15) advances the ball against Baldwin in the Wildcats' 4-0 non-league soccer win. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Hayden freshman Reese Huscher (15) is congratulated by teammate Elaina Wolff (2) after scoring one of her two goals in Thursday's 4-0 non-league soccer win over Baldwin. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Hayden junior Jill Jenherr moves past a fallen Baldwin defender in Thursday's 4-0 non-league soccer win. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Freshman Carsyn Broxterman (4) scored the first goal in Hayden's 4-0 non-league win over Baldwin Thursday night. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
It's been a busy week for the Wildcats. Hayden's contest against the Bulldogs was its second out of three this week. And for the second time in the past three days, the Wildcats were victorious.
"I thought offensively we performed better," Hayden coach Klause Kreutzer said. "I thought we did an excellent job with our passing combinations. We were looking for each other tonight. We've had some games in the past where we play to the other team. Our possession was a little bit better, and we were more composed in front of the goal.
"You can't be a good coach without good players."
Unlike Hayden's 1-0 victory over Topeka High on Monday, goals were easier to come by. The offense was effortlessly flying around against a Baldwin team with a solid defense in the 2023 campaign.
Baldwin had the unfavorable task of guarding a fierce Hayden striking group. In addition, the Wildcats (6-3-1) were in Bulldog territory for a large chunk of the non-league matchup.
Freshman midfielder Carsyn Broxterman has had quite the season and had a scoring impact in the win against Baldwin. Broxterman registered the opening goal on Thursday, which totaled her goal count to six on the season.
Freshman standout Reese Huscher had a special attack against the Bulldogs. The midfielder closed out the final three minutes in the first half with a goal from midfield and opened up the second half with another goal to give Hayden a 3-0 lead with 32:12 left.
Huscher has registered five goals in the last four matches Hayden has played.
"She's grown quite a bit," Kreutzer said. "Sometimes good players come together well with other good players. She's performed well, and what she does with her speed and ability pressures other teams. So teams have to work harder to defend her, and typically, that means somebody else for us will be open."
Junior Jill Lenherr finished Hayden's scoring off with a goal with 24:57 remaining in the second half giving her goals in back-to-back games.
Defensively, the backline did a stellar job against the Baldwin (8-4-0) attack. Freshman goalkeeper Kadence Watts earned a clean sheet with the shutout. Watts wasn't challenged much but did an excellent job keeping the contest clean.
"Defensively, we've been good outside of a couple of hiccups where I think we did too much, but I try not to get too crazy about it," Kreutzer said. "I feel really comfortable with the players we have in the back. At the end of the day, a win is a win."
It's a quick turnaround for Hayden as the Wildcats will host another non-league contest Friday against Spring Hill at 4 p.m.
HAYDEN 4, BALDWIN 0.
Baldwin (8-4-0) – 0 0 – 0
Hayden (6-3-1) – 2 2 – 4
Hayden -- Goals: Huscher 2, C. Broxterman, Lenherr. Shutout – Watts.
