By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After having five of its previous nine games and three of its four losses decided by a single goal, Tuesday's 5-3 Centennial League decision at Hayden was a welcome change for Topeka High's girls soccer team.
Topeka High senior Avery Zimmerman (2) is congratulated by teammates after scoring her third goal of the day on a second-half penalty kick in the Trojans' 5-3 win over Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Trojans, now 6-4-0 on the season and 1-1 in the league, got a three-goal hat trick and an assist from senior Avery Zimmerman en route to opening up a 5-2 lead before allowing a late Wildcat goal to account for the final score.
"I was happy with our performance today,'' said Zimmerman, an Emporia State signee. "It's nice getting a win after having so many close games. It was another close one today and I'm just really proud of our team.
"This definitely gives us momentum going forward.''
Hayden (3-5-1, 1-2-0) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal from sophomore Reese Huscher but the Trojans answered with three straight goals, opening up a 3-1 advantage with 14:02 left in the first half on a goal from sophomore Natalie Barnes.
Topeka High sophomore Raelee Shipley (10) had a goal in Tuesday's 5-3 Trojan win at Hayden while Wildcat sophomore Reese Huscher (14) had a pair of goals for Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Huscher scored her second goal of the day with 1:44 remaining in the half to cut the Wildcat deficit to 3-2 but the Trojans scored the first two goals of the second half to take control, with a penalty kick from Zimmerman giving High a 5-2 advantage.
"We finally put some in the back of the net and maybe could have had a couple more,'' Topeka High coach Derek Snook said. "We've been doing some good things. We just haven't had the luck or haven't had the skill, if you will, to put it in the back of the net.
"Right now we're just trying to hit our stride at the right time and keep working at it so hopefully we can get some more in the back of the net.''
Hayden senior Jill Lenherr (10) moves the ball downfield while Topeka High junior Myia Elwood defends. Lenherr scored Hayden's final goal in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Trojans. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden had numerous scoring opportunities down the stretch but only got one in the back of the net, a goal from Jill Lenherr with six minutes left to play.
Topeka High also got a goal from sophomore Raelee Shipley and an assist from sophomore Dana Chavarria Delacruz in the win.
Sophomore Carsyn Broxterman had a pair of assists for Hayden.
TOPEKA HIGH 5, HAYDEN 3
Topeka High (6-4-0, 1-1-0) 3 2 -- 5
Hayden (3-5-1, 1-2-0) 2 1 -- 3
Topeka High -- Goals : Avery Zimmerman 3, Natalie Barnes, Raelee Shipley. Assists: Avery Zimmerman, Dana Chavarria Delacruz.
Hayden -- Goals: Reese Huscher 2, Jill Lenherr. Assists: Carsyn Broxterman 2.
