Panthers edge Danville Bears, 5-4, in soccer shootout

BY ANDY KRUTSINGER

Mt. Pleasant News

The Mt. Pleasant soccer team gritted out a shootout win on Thursday evening over Danville. The Panthers and Bears were tied 1-1 for the majority of regulation and a full two overtimes before MPCHS finally escaped with a 5-4 shootout victory.

The game started off fast when the Panthers took an early 1-0 lead when Ryan Hutchinson sent in the opening goal in the first 10 minutes. Then, just minutes later, the Bears struck back to tie the game at 1-1.

The Bears nearly broke the tie with 21:35 remaining in the half but Panther goalkeeper Nathan Rauenbuehler made a jumping save to preserve the tie.

Danville had another oportunity with five minutes left in the half when Rauenbuehler got caught away from the goal, but the freshman keeper was able to make a diving save to knock the ball out of bounds. The Bears had another shot just minutes later but Rauenbuehler made another running save away from the goal.

The teams were tied at one goal apiece at halftime. During the break, Mt. Pleasant recognized their seniors, which include Riley Martin, Zach Van Dorin, Trevor Bentler, Cameron Keomanivong, Clay Perry and Korte Maddy.

In the second half, the Panthers started to get multiple chances at the go-ahead goal. Hutchinson had a shot saved and Tanner Ruby and Cade Warner each had a shot go over the crossbar.

Hutchinson had another potential go-ahead shot saved when his header was realed in by the Danville keeper in the final minutes of regulation.

The defenses held for both teams down the stretch in the second half and the two squads went into overtime.

The Bears and Panthers played two full overtimes without a goal crossing the line for either team. Hutchinson had a potential game winner sail just over the crossbar towards the end of the first half, and Rauenbuhler made a big save to preserve the game in the second. After two full overtimes, the teams were still knotted up at one goal apiece.

Ruby opened up penalty kicks with a goal, which was quickly answered by a Bear to make it 1-1 after one round. Jack

Pieper gave the Panthers 2-1 lead. Danville?s player missed and Mt. Pleasant had a one-goal lead after round two.

Bentler and Hutchinson were both unsuccessful on their next kicks and the Bears converted one to make it 2-2 after the fourth round. Keomanivong put in the potential game winner in the fifth round of the shootout but Danville tied the game and the penalty kick portion of the game went to extra players.

Kyle Medina scored on his penalty kick, however the Bears answered again. Maddy over shot the goal, giving Danville achance to win, but the shot was missed and the score stayed tied, 4-4 in Payton Kelly got the call in the next round and buried a shot to give the Panthers the lead. The next Bear up hit the crossbar and Mt. Pleasant got away with the home victory.

The Panthers moved to 7-8 overall this season with the win. They?ll be at Keokuk on Monday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m., for their first round district tournament game. A win will give them a date with Cedar Rapids Xavier just two days later.