Girls' soccer team from Simon Kenton triumphs over Notre Dame with a clean 2-0 victory, ending their losing streak.
Simon Kenton Secures First-Ever Victory Over Notre Dame in Girls High School Soccer
In a closely contested match, the Simon Kenton Pioneers emerged victorious against the Notre Dame Pandas, securing a 2-0 win in girls high school soccer. The Pioneers, who remained undefeated with their fourth shutout, pushed their record to 9-0-1.
The game started with a bang as Simon Kenton took a 1-0 lead against Notre Dame less than four minutes after the opening kickoff, thanks to a goal from senior striker Meg Gadzala. The Pioneers' head coach, Hillary Johnson, achieved a significant milestone with this win, marking her 100th career victory, having a 50-20-10 record in four seasons.
Notre Dame responded valiantly, with senior goalkeeper Joelle Hentz making a diving catch on one of Simon Kenton's scoring attempts. The Pandas continued mounting attacks with good passing and teamwork, but couldn't find the back of the net. At halftime, Notre Dame had an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Notre Dame got a shot on goal, but Simon Kenton's freshman goalkeeper Makenna Doherty made a diving save to preserve the shutout with eight minutes remaining. The Pioneers pulled back on defense to protect their lead towards the end of the game.
With 14 minutes left in the game, freshman Aniah Zembrodt scored Simon Kenton's second goal by chipping it into the net. Senior striker Meg Gadzala moved the ball down the sideline and set up the goal. The Pioneers' second goal seemed to deflate Notre Dame's spirits, and they struggled to create more scoring opportunities in the remaining minutes.
Coach Johnson noted improved communication from her team compared to last year's match against Notre Dame. The Pioneers are aiming to win the 8th Region championship for the first time since 2020 and play in the state tournament. Senior striker Meg Gadzala expressed a desire to go farther than their win against Notre Dame, aiming for state.
The game featured an interesting mix of experience and youth, with six seniors and seven freshmen on the Simon Kenton team. Freshman Aniah Zembrodt's goal was a testament to the team's promising future. Notre Dame coach Cory Dan stated they are creating scoring opportunities but need to convert them more effectively to challenge the Pioneers in the future.
The Simon Kenton Pioneers secured their first-ever victory over the Notre Dame Pandas, a significant achievement in their quest for regional and state championships.
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