Lopreato’s return anchors Mt. Pleasant

MT. PLEASANT — Andrea Lopreato scored a team-high 26 goals last season, a mark that helped lead the Panther girls’ soccer team to a Southeast Conference title. But when the 2022 season rolled around, the Panthers had to play without her — at least until Monday night.

The Panther junior, who had decided to forgo soccer in favor of track and field this spring, made her triumphant return to play in a fierce rivalry game against Washington. She would score four goals in a 5-4 double over time win, including the game-winner.

“I just missed the feeling of being on the team,” Lopreato said. “It helps when you have a good team connection, and that helped a lot with my choice to come back.”

Lopreato’s performance helped Mt. Pleasant pull out a victory in what has become one of the tightest rivalries in Iowa high school athletics. The Panthers and Demons have went to overtime six games in a row, dating back to 2019.

“I think it's just really indicative of the fact that both programs are on the rise,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Scott Stribe. “Both teams are doing great things, and the soccer teams are competitive.”

The game was 2-2 at the half. Lopreato and Manning had one each for Mt. Pleasant, and Giselle Marcelino had two for Washington, including the game-tying goal in the last four minutes.

A wild second half saw both teams trade quality chance after quality chance. Lopreato put the Panthers up 3-2, but Marcelino earned a penalty kick which was sniped in by Greta Rothe to tie it up. Then, with 12:44 remaining in regulation, Marcelino completed the hat-trick by breaking loose and putting one in to give Washington a 4-3 lead.

“Giselle is a great ball-runner,” said Stribe about Washington’s sophomore striker. “If she gets space, she's going to make the best of her chances.”

The Demons held that lead until the final minutes when Lopreato was able to do it again, this time sneaking the ball around Demon keeper Elise Hunt and tapping the equalizer into an empty net.

Both teams had multiple chances to win it in the first overtime. Marcelino nearly had a one-on-one with the keeper until Mt. Pleasant defender Leslie Lopez stepped in front to boot the ball out of harm’s way. On the counterattack, Lopreato’s potential game-winner was saved by Hunt, one of many key turnaways from the Demon keeper on the day.

The Panthers finally ended it in the second overtime. Hunt was able to fend off a big rush from Mt. Pleasant freshmen Tori Wilson and Charise Auwerda, but a rebound found the foot of Lopreato, who sent it to the back of the net, a fitting end to her first game back on the team.

“We had talked to Andrea at the beginning of the year, and as an athlete, she wanted to try track,” said Stribe. “We're happy to try to find ways to accommodate athletes that want to do both.”

Washington is now 7-3 overall and 3-3 in Southeast Conference play. Mt. Pleasant is 5-3, and moved into a tie for third with the Demons, at 3-3 in the league. Both teams play Thursday with the Demons going to Fort Madison and the Panthers playing at Keokuk.