Hillcrest blanked by No. 1 Notre Dame

KALONA — Aiden Krabill got it from all angles Thursday but stopped 22 shots from the top-ranked boys soccer team in Class 1A.

Krabill broke the Hillcrest record of 15 saves in Thursday’s 8-0 loss to Notre Dame. Nearly every Nike and all the coaches congratulated him after the match for his play.

“It’s not the kind of record you want to set, but I’m happy he broke it because the score could have been a lot worse,” Hillcrest head coach Marcus Miller said. “They are ranked No. 1 for a reason.”

Miller said Notre Dame was impressive in ways that reminded him of some of his best teams. “We knew we would have our hands full.”

Numerous Ravens were playing in just their second game ever while Miller was told 10 of 11 Nikes starters play club ball. It didn’t help the Ravens chances that all 16 players have been together at a practice just one time so far this season.

“We worked a lot on defensive shape,” Miller said. “We knew we would have a hard time scoring. You learn a lot playing good teams and that will help us down the road.”

Coach Miller saw the night as a chance to learn some life lessons.

“If you put the work in, you’ll see the results. Maybe schedule those haircuts and driver’s license things at other times.”

Notre Dame is 5-0. Hillcrest is 1-1 and plays at Central Lee Tuesday.