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Girls’ first win comes with domination
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · April 24, 2024
With a fully-loaded lineup and a hot start, the West Branch girls’ soccer team collected its first win of the season with a dominating 9-0 victory over Monticello.
“When you have your team, it’s a different story,” Bears Co-Head Coach Jose Gongora said. “We had our full squad today, so that just makes a difference.”
The Bears, who also collected the first girls’ soccer win on Butch Pedersen Field at the Little Rose Bowl, had not rostered its full starting lineup for a complete match often amid an 0-3 start. Despite not being at full strength, West Branch Co-Head Coach Becky Hosier noted that the team had gotten several quality looks at goals but could not piece together enough scores to get into the win column.
After struggling to find the net in the team’s previous two matches against Mid-Prairie and Mediapolis, West Branch came out firing from the start.
Grace Hamann put the Bears on the board after just two minutes, setting the tone and giving the home team a 1-0 edge. Two minutes later, Emily Coleman struck for a goal of her own as the Bears led 2-0.
Hamann and Coleman each had another chance to add a second goal, with Hamann also getting a shot on goal after nine minutes.
At 10 minutes, Kylie Pickett received some help from a dangerous pass by a Monticello defender towards the goal that landed at her feet.
The senior then took advantage of the miscue, drilling a goal as the Bears tacked on another goal. The pace settled down a bit, with Hamann getting a handful of shots on goal in the middle minutes of the half with Pickett also getting a shot on goal. Monticello finally managed a pair of shots, including a decent chance at the 31-minute mark.
Coleman expanded the Bears’ attack, thumping a long shot on goal with three minutes left in the half. The late volley was followed by a shot by Pickett and another shot by Hamann just before the half.
After the first 40 minutes, the West Branch offense began firing on all cylinders. Coleman had a shot after a minute, while MadeLynn Falco cracked the scoreboard with a goal set up by a play off a corner kick three minutes into the second.
MadeLynn Falco then set up the next goal two minutes later with a cross kick that went into the goalie’s box and found Coleman, who finished the play with a header to make it a 5-0 match.
A minute later, Hamann added to the scoring onslaught with her second goal that the freshman launched from just inside the keeper’s box.
The pace settled for a few minutes, with JaLynn Falco getting a shot off before Pickett used her instincts to put another ball in the net at the 49 minute mark to expand the lead to 7-0.
With the mercy rule of an advantage of 10 goals at any point in the half looming, the Bears began searching for three more scores.
Hamann answered a Monticello shot with a beautiful goal, an arching shot from range that curled in the left side of the net after 61 minutes. Seven minutes later, a fantastic Katelyn Essington corner kick led to a goal for Kiley Pierce to put the Bears up 9-0 with 22 minutes to go.
The final goal to end the match early did not come, as both sides settled into a rhythm in the middle of the field as starters departed to give way to reserves.
West Branch benefitted from more confident dribbling on offense as the Bears calmly dissected the Monticello defense and created plenty of scoring opportunities.
“It wasn’t just one person making all the goals,” Hosier said. “So clearly, all the girls are starting to get more confident in their shooting and offense.”
The coach added that herself and Gongora have noticed a few players who have shown remarkable improvement in their ball-handling ability as the year has progressed.
The Bears’ speed also played a factor, with Coleman, MadeLynn Falco, Hamann, and other midfielders and forwards such as Pierce and Chloe Albrecht putting pressure on the Panthers and setting up a relatively painless day for the West Branch defenders and keeper Jenie Gomez, who collected four saves before giving way to Dani Crutchley in goal and getting some work in on the pitch.
Coleman was also able to help more in the midfield and on defense as the match progressed, giving West Branch a one-two punch with Hamann to attack from the position.
“You have that flexibility that you can put someone in there that’s going to be able to take on the game the same as someone who’s just left,” Gongora said. “We’re not afraid to change them, and they’re gaining more confidence.”
West Branch also showed strides in disciplined aggression, with the Bears fighting for possession while avoiding costly fouls.
Hosier credited the center backs in particular, saying that the players “kept their line” to avoid allowing Monticello to get good scoring looks.
The Bears had a few days to savor the win before returning to action April 22 at home against Northeast. Gongora said he hopes the team will learn from the victory and bring the momentum into the match.
1 2 T
Mont 0 0 0
WB 3 6 9
West Branch offense: MadeLynn Falco 1 assist, 1 goal, 3 points; Chloe Albrecht 2 shots; Grace Hamann 2 assists, 3 goals, 8 points, 10 shots, 4 SOG; Kiley Pierce 1 goal, 2 points, 1 shot, 1 SOG: Melayna Burmeister 6 shots, 6 SOG; Kylie Pickett 2 goals, 4 points, 5 shots, 2 SOG; Ava Abdagic 2 shots, 2 SOG; Emily Coleman 2 goals, 4 points, 7 shots, 5 SOG; JaLynn Falco 1 assist, 1 point, 1 SOG; Katelyn Essington 1 assist, 1 point, 3 shots, 1 SOG; Jenie Gomez 1 shot. Team totals: 5 assists, 9 goals, 23 points, 37 shots, 22 SOG.
West Branch goalkeeping: Dani Crutchley 0 goals allowed, 2 saves, 100 PCT; Jenie Gomez 0 goals allowed, 4 saves, 100 PCT. Team totals: 0 goals allowed, 6 saves, 100 PCT.
Monticello offense: Lauren Verhagen 1 shot. Team totals: 1 shot.
Monticello goalkeeping: Sam Ruchti 9 goals allowed, 25 saves, 73.5 PCT. Team totals: 9 goals allowed, 25 saves, 73.5 PCT.
West Branch 1, Mediapolis 4
The Bears took to the road on April 18 and traveled to Mediapolis, falling to their hosts, 4-1.
1 2 T
WB 1 0 1
Mepo 3 1 4
West Branch offense: Chloe Albrecht 2 shots, 2 SOG; Kyiie Pickett 6 shots, 6 SOG; Emily Coleman 6 shots, 6 SOG; JaLynn Falco 1 goal, 2 points, 1 shot, 1 SOG; Katelyn Essington 4 shots, 2 SOG. Team totals: 1 goal, 2 points, 19 shots, 17 SOG.
West Branch goalkeeping: Jenie Gomez 4 goals allowed, 12 saves, 75 PCT. Team totals: 4 goals allowed, 12 saves, 75 PCT.
Mediapolis offense: Ella Russell 1 goal, 2 points, 2 shots, 2 SOG; Ellie Vincent 1 shot, 1 SOG; Camryn Bailey 3 goals, 6 points, 3 shots, 3 SOG; Jordan Sharp 1 shot, 1 SOG; Savannah Kerr 3 shots, 3 SOG. Team totals: 4 goals, 8 points, 10 shots, 10 SOG.
Mediapolis goalkeeping: Tayler Schnedler 1 goal allowed, 15 saves, 93.8 PCT. Team totals: 1 goal allowed, 15 saves, 93.8 PCT.
West Branch 10, Northeast 1
West Branch hosted Northeast-Goose Lake on Monday night, crushing the Rebels, 10-1.
1 2 T
NE 1 0 1
WB 4 6 10
West Branch offense: MadeLynn Falco 5 shots, 2 SOG; Chloe Albrecht 1 goal, 2 points, 1 shot, 1 SOG; Grace Hamann 4 goals, 8 points, 18 shots, 9 SOG; Kiley Pierce 1 goal, 2 points, 3 shots, 2 SOG; Melayna Burmeister 8 shots, 5 SOG; Kylie Pickett 8 shots, 5 SOG; Ava Abdagic 1 assist, 1 point, 1 shot; Maryam Martin 1 assist, 1 point; Emily Coleman 2 goals, 4 points, 5 shots, 4 SOG; JaLynn Falco 1 goal, 2 points, 5 shots, 3 SOG; Katelyn Essington 1 assist, 1 goal, 3 points, 2 shots, 1 SOG; Addysyn Rocha 3 shots, 1 SOG. Team totals: 3 assists, 10 goals, 23 points, 59 shots, 33 SOG.
West Branch goalkeeping: Dani Crutchley 0 goals allowed, 1 save, 100 PCT; Jenie Gomez 1 goal allowed, 8 saves, 88.9 PCT. Team totals: 1 goal allowed, 9 saves, 90 PCT.
Northeast offense: Tabitha Eshelman 1 goal, 2 points, 2 shots, 1 SOG; Bailee Burken 1 assist, 1 point, 2 shots. Team totals: 1 assist, 1 goal, 3 points, 4 shots, 1 SOG.
Northeast goalkeeping: Kylie Petersen 8 goals allowed, 40 saves, 83.3 PCT; Yareli Avianda 2 goals allowed, 4 saves, 66.7 PCT. Team totals: 10 goals allowed, 44 saves, 81.5 PCT.
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