By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Seaman girls soccer continued its unbeaten streak by jumping on United Kansas Conference and city rival Shawnee Heights early and holding on for a 5-0 shutout Tuesday at Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Seaman senior Ava Huston had a goal and an assist Tuesday as the Vikings improved to 6-0-2 with a 5-0 UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Going against a fierce wind from the south, Seaman surprised their hosts when Savannah Nelson punched home a goal on the Vikings’ first possession, just 37 seconds into the contest. Barely five minutes into the contest, Julia Molleker added a second score. And 17 minutes into the first half, Nelson found the back of the next for a second time.
Senior Savannah Nelson (4) scored a pair of goals in Tuesday's 5-0 Seaman UKC win over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“We came out super strong and pressed them really high at the beginning, which is good,” said senior Ava Huston. “It was a super-aggressive game, of course, but our defense locked them down and our forwards scored, so it was a good game.”
Seaman coach Kyle Seevers said his team has a knack for playing well into the wind. He wasn’t so certain, however, how the Vikings would perform a few days after prom.
“The effort is never there right after prom, and you’re wondering, 'Are we gonna show up against Shawnee Heights today?’ ” Seevers said. “Even in warmups, I was a little worried. I just didn’t see the effort. But this team has a pretty good nucleus, and when it’s time to kick off, they click right in.”
The Vikings added scores by Huston and Kallie Zurmely in the second half. At the back of the Seaman defense, goalkeeper Kelecia Hale held the T-Birds scoreless. It was the Vikings’ fourth shutout of the season.
The Vikings improved to 6-0-2 on the season with ties at Manhattan and at De Soto.
“We’re at the midpoint of the year, and right now we’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re in a really good place,” Seevers said.
“We’re really aggressive and give a lot of effort to push through the hard times,” Huston added. “(Leading) this team is honestly pretty easy. Everyone gets along well. We’re all friends.”
Seaman (6-0-2) 3 2 -- 5
Shawnee Heights (3-4-2) 0 0 -- 0
Seaman -- Goals: Nelson 2, Molleker, Zurmely, Huston. Assists: Huston, Golightley, Brooks. Shutouts: Hale.
