Wildcats Beat Martin Luther in Non-conference Soccer Contest

The University School girls’ soccer team defeated Martin Luther High School in a non-conference game Friday night.  The final score was 5-0.

It was Senior Night and the Wildcats celebrated the three seniors on their team, Maddy Lucey, Caity Prewitt, and Emily Wigdale.

The night was also cold and windy.  It took both teams awhile to warm up.  The early part of the game was mostly played between the two eighteen yard lines.  USM finally struck for a goal midway into the first half.  The Wildcats added another goal later in the half.  They scored two penalty kick goals in the second half then added a late goal to finalize the victorious outcome.

USM’s head coach Jock Mutschler said, “I am not often satisfied with anything that happens on the training ground or during match play.  Tonight, however, I must say the girls' brought a proper attitude and ferocity to the match that I found quite pleasing.  I could tell during warm-up that the girls were keenly focused. The girls had domination on their minds from the outset.  We had a couple uncharacteristic early lapses in our back third, and we were fortunate that Martin Luther squandered their opportunities.  We tightened up nicely in the latter stages of the first half and certainly in the second half.  Chloe Schaefer effectively man marked Martin Luther's top scorer all over the field.  In the second half, we sandwiched her between Julia Hanson and Chloe, as we recognized that neutralizing her was the key to victory.  Catherine Jacobus continues to be our field general, dispensing crucial guidance to her back line cohorts.  It was important to have Marielle Bernacchi’s speed and instinct for the goal back in the line-up.  Caity Prewitt was the undisputed player of the match.  She displayed tenacious defense, good decision-making, and a terrific work rate this evening.  All three seniors represented USM with class and professionalism this night, their special night, as they have done all season long.  Wildcat Nation will sleep well this evening.”        

USM out shot Martin Luther 13-10, but it wasn’t until 17:56 that one of the Wildcats’ shots made it past Elyse Hoeg, Martin Luther’s goalie.  The play began in midfield. Merrill Read secured the ball and sent a pass into space in front of the speedy Marielle Bernacchi down the right side line.  Bernacchi ran into the ball, dribbled to the end line, turned, and sent a short pass to Kat Schmidt deep in the 18-yard box.  Schmidt settled the ball, took a touch, and fired a shot into the net to give USM a lead it would never relinquish.

Read set up Bernacchi for USM’s second goal. Read gained control of the ball in midfield and passed it ahead to Bernacchi. Bernacchi raced to the edge of the box. Her shot rose like a bird from a beach flying just under the cross bar for a goal at 32:09.

The Wildcats swarmed the Spartans end of the field early in the second half. Their efforts gained them two penalty kicks.  Kate Nosbusch took the first one at 61:34.  Caity Prewitt took the second at 64:26.  Both players put their shots low to the left. Both were successful.

The Wildcats tallied their fifth goal at 67:45.  Julia Hanson centered a pass into the 18-yard box from the left.  The ball hit the shoulder of Spartan defender and caromed into the net to make the score 5-0, USM.

USM is now 4-3-2.  The Wildcats are also 3-1 in the Midwest Classic Conference and tied for the conference lead in points.  They hope to improve their record on Wednesday when they travel to Kenosha to take on Kenosha Christian Life.  The conference contest is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.

Goal Scoring                                   

Team

Time

Goal Scorer

Assist

USM

17:56

Kat Schmidt

Marielle Bernacchi

USM

32:09

Bernacchi

Merrill Read

USM

61:34

Kate Nosbusch –Penalty Kick

USM

64:26

Caity Prewitt – Penalty Kick

USM

67:45

Julia Hanson

Saves

Team

Goalkeeper

Save Total

ML

Elyse Hoeg

 5

USM

Emily Wigdale

 5