Miller, Riggan lead charge over Demons

Mid-Prairie senior Ashley Miller found her groove against the Washington girls? soccer team once again on Tuesday afternoon.

After recording a hat trick in last year?s game between the Hawks and the Demons, Miller found the back of the net four times in the teams? matchup this season, helping Mid-Prairie pick up its first win of the season, 6-1, over Washington.

?My goal was to get another hat trick,? Miller said. ?Not being able to finish the season last year, because of a broken foot, it feels good to come out here and play as hard as I want. As a senior and a leader, it?s really fun to pull off everything we can.?

The Hawks moved to 1-1 with the win, and after getting a win under their belt, they think they have the chance to do some damage the rest of the season.

?This year, we have a very talented group, including  core group of seniors,? Mid-Prairie girls? head coach Maya Yoder said. ?As we continue to play and improve, I think we are going to surprise a few teams and be very competitive. I?m looking forward to a good season.?

On the other side of the game, Washington fell to 0-3 on the season, and has been outscored a combined 17-2 on Tuesday and the previous game on Monday against Clear Creek Amana.

?We started doing things that we were lacking (on Monday) night better, but some of the things we were doing well (on Monday) we were lacking today,? Washington girls? coach Kyle Collins said. ?Everybody needs to get on the same page and play as a team. Things should get better.?

The game started with a pair of goals from Miller at the 16th and 27th minute, before fellow senior Alison Riggan knocked in her first goal of the game.

Washington?s Stacy Ramirez put in the lone goal of the game for the Demons in the first half, closing the gap to 3-1, but Riggan netted a goal early in the second half to quickly dispatch any thoughts the Demons had of a comeback.

Miller added two more goals in the 46th and 70th minute of the match to seal the game for Mid-Prairie.

?Ashley played a great game,? Yoder said. ?She hustled and did what she needed to do to put the ball in the back of the net. She had a hat trick against Washington last year, so maybe this is a theme for her. It?s fun to watch her play.?

Washington will look to notch its first win of the season when Fairfield comes to town on Thursday afternoon, and Collins is hoping that after getting some rest on Wednesday, the team is geared up for another tough game.

?I hope it puts some pressure on us a little bit,? Collins said. ?We have to start working hard and working as a team more. Sometimes it takes a whooping to get that through and we?ll start kicking it in. Once we get some more practices under our belt, we?ll get some wins and go from there.?

Mid-Prairie will look to stay in the win column on Thursday, when the Hawks hit the road to take on Columbus.