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Washington Evening Journal
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Hummell sinks Trojans in final 2 minutes
Mt. Pleasant girls soccer team survives Fairfield, snaps losing streak
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FAIRFIELD — The Mt. Pleasant girls soccer team had lost three-straight games after an unbeaten start to the season in the first five, but the Panthers finally turned it back around with a nail-biting win over Fairfield on Monday night.
The Panthers and Trojans played an instant classic at Dexter Soccer Complex, playing each other as even as can be until Mt. Pleasant freshman Aurora Hummell scored the game-winner in the final two minutes.
“We've had a pretty rough past week,” said Hummell after the game. “I think with the losses, we've kind of locked in and said, 'we've got to focus and start connecting more.'”
Connecting is exactly what Charice Auwerda did with Hummell on the final through ball. Auwerda sent a long pass down the right side of the field, and Hummell took it in stride, rushing toward the net and sending it past Trojan keeper Johana Mora.
“It's pretty freakin' cool being able to be the one who breaks the tie,” Hummell said.
Mora had just robbed Auwerda of her second goal, making a sliding save to stop a ball that ricocheted off the post.
After a 0-0 tie at the break, Auwerda scored the go-ahead goal for Mt. Pleasant just seven minutes into the second half. The Panthers held a 1-0 lead until Fairfield freshman Lexi Mast sent a rocket into the top-right corner with 16:30 remaining.
“We had to continue to do what we do,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Chris Davis. “Sometimes there are just goals that you can't do anything about.”
The Trojans and Panthers both had opportunities before Hummell’s game-winner, but it was a solid evening for both keepers. Mt. Pleasant’s Eli Heaton made nine saves on the day, and Mora finished with eight.
The win helped Mt. Pleasant move back to .500 in SEC play. The Panthers are now 5-3-1 overall and 3-3 in the conference. Fairfield is now 3-5 overall and 1-5 in league play.
