Demons prevail in extra time thriller

Washington’s Ava Turner sends a pass forward as Mt. Pleasant’s Kiera Frazier looks to steal the ball in the Demon’s 5-4 victory over the Panthers on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

WASHINGTON — On a night in which in seemed like every other Southeast Iowa sporting event was canceled due to weather, the Washington and Mt. Pleasant girls soccer teams put together a barnburner that needed extra time to determine a winner.

Mt. Pleasant’s Tori Wilson sends a ball downfield on Thursday, April 7, 2022 against Washington. The Panthers fell to the Demons 5-4 in the matchup. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

Keeping on par with the last two meetings, it’s now the third straight match that the two exceeded two halfs. It was a back and forth battle between the two teams through in and throughout.

Washington’s Giselle Marcelino delivered with Washington’s first goal and capped off the Demons night with the game winner in the second period of extra time.

“I think the girls did a great job fighting,” Washington head coach Steven Caulk said. “As a coach there is always something we can improve on, but I thought we did a lot of things well.”

It was a back and forth battle through the first half, which saw Washington leading at the halftime whistle 3-2.

Washington’s Nicoll Torrijos chases down the ball in the Demons 5-4 victory over Mt. Pleasant on April 7, 2022. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

Mt. Pleasant put the pressure on early in the second half, with the Panther’s Elly Manning sending a rocket over the outstretched arms of the Demon’s Elyse Hunt to tie the game at 3-3 with 23:16 to go.

The game was at a standstill until the 8:47 mark when Mt. Pleasant’s Tori Wilson found the back of the net off an assist from Manning to break the tie, 4-3.

With the pressure mounting for Washington and just 2:21 to play, the Demons needed an answer. They found it in the form of Greta Rothe.

Washington’s Alex Murphy and Mt. Pleasant’s Peyton Hainline fight for the ball on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Washington came away with the victory 5-4. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

A foul committed by the Panthers around 10 yards outside the right of the box gave the Demons the chance they needed.

Rothe send a beaming shot directly at the net and it connected to tie the game at 4-4, which would send the game to extra time.

After trading possessions in the first extra period, Washington was to grab the win in the second with a through ball from Rothe that found a streaking Marcelino for the win.

“When it finally clicks for us, we were able to execute our game plan,” Caulk said. “Which is play those balls forward and attack the ball and try to get everyone involved in the play.”

Marcelino and Rothe both finished with two goals in the contest. Ava Turner also scored one goal. Ana Mata finished with one assist. Elyse Hunt tallied six saves for the Demons in the net.

For Mt. Pleasant, Manning and Wilson each scored two a piece. Manning also finished with one assist. Evelyn Escobar accumulated nine saves for the Panthers.

“It was definitely a heart breaker for the girls,” Mt. Pleasant head coach Scott Stribe said. “Honestly so proud of how they battled. We talked before the game. There we so many built in excuses that we could have used to not compete. Short numbers, didn’t have our whole squad, the weather was terrible, no other sports in Southeast Iowa are playing, but they rocked it.”

Washington who improves to 4-0 in the early season will take on Fort Madison (1-1) on Monday, April 11.

Mt. Pleasant, now 2-1, will square off with Keokuk (1-1) also on Monday.