MILL HALL, Pa. – The Central Mountain girls’ soccer team gave the undefeated Midd-West Lady Mustangs a battle Thursday night, but the visitors, with one goal in the first half and one in the second, went home with a 2-0 win.
The Lady Mustangs are now 10-0-1 on the season; the Lady Wildcats are 2-8-1 with a trip to Bald Eagle Area next up this Saturday at 11 a.m. CM defeated the Lady Eagles by a 6-1 score in their first meeting in late August.
Thursday’s contest was physical at times as both teams saw players exit with injuries; most were able to return but Central Mountain, already short some key players, was hampered by their departures.
Central Mountain was held to just one shot on goal, a first-half effort from freshman Adrian Serafini, her shot deflected away by Midd-West goalkeeper Addison Maust.
The visitors notched their first goal with just under 10 minutes to go in the first half, scored by Kaedyn Bingamin. Their second and final goal was midway through the second half, scored by Ava Aitkins.
The Lady Mustangs had a 5-1 edge in shots on goal, CM with a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Lady Wildcat coach Lauren Heimer was happy with her team’s performance against a solid foe, “The first half I told them at halftime, I don’t have anything really pressing that we need to work on. We are sticking with them, we’re holding our own and being competitive, and that’s all I ask for. And they came out the second half the same way. I couldn’t be prouder, honestly. They showed up tonight. Unfortunately, we didn’t get our way with some calls and the goals, but we’re making progress, and that’s all we ask for.”
Midway through the season, the first-year head coach said she’s seeing progress, “A ton of progress. I feel like the first few games we were kind of feeling it out to see but every single practice, every single game, I said, “Be yourselves, play how you know how to play.” And I really don’t say a whole lot to them. I don’t try to change the way they play, I don’t try to change the way they do things. I just want them to do it, and it’s all them. They’re the ones that are out there making the calls and making the plays, and I’m just here as support.”
