MP girls fall in season opener

By Andy Krutsinger, Mt. Pleasant News

After having their originally scheduled season opener postponed on Tuesday, the Mt. Pleasant girls? soccer team finally took the field for its first game on Thursday evening.

The Panthers faced non-conference foe Ottumwa. Mt. Pleasant kept it close throughout the majority of the game but a couple of late goals helped the Bulldogs pull away for a 4-0 win.

The Panthers had to battle rough conditions in the first half as a wicked East Lake wind helped stall the MPCHS offense early.

Shyla Hiler had a good chance in the first 10 minutes but a high shot was saved by the Ottumwa keeper.

The Bulldogs capitalized on the other end, scoring their first goal less than two minutes earlier.

Mt. Pleasant kept it at a one-goal game throughout the rest of the first half, and Ottumwa still wasn?t able to score again until midway through the second half.

Ottumwa was finally able to get some separation with 22:23 left in the second half, which put Mt. Pleasant?s back against the wall, especially with the windy conditions.

?When we were down one to nothing with time left, we decided it was time to put the numbers forward,? head coach Brennan Williams said after the game. ?We kind of pulled out some defenders (and) moved them up top to get that goal back. It kind of left us open in the back a little bit, but you have to go for it.?

Mt. Pleasant worked the ball to Catherine Prough on the near side and were able to get a few good rushes in the second half, but the Ottumwa defense stayed strong and kept the shut out going.

The Bulldogs broke the game open with five minutes remaining when an Ottumwa forward rolled in a shot to make it 3-0. They tacked another goal on with 55 seconds left and Mt. Pleasant walked away with a four-goal loss.

?I think we?ve got some room to improve and room to grow,? Williams said about the opener. ?It was definitely a typical day out at East Lake (but) you can?t really do anything about the conditions.?

Mt. Pleasant fell to 0-1 to start the season. They?ll be back at home for their first conference game on Monday, April 10, at 4:30 p.m., when they host Fairfield.