Mt. Pleasant soccer teams split with Keokuk, fall to Burlington

The Mt. Pleasant soccer teams combined for a 1-3 record in two Southeast Conference games each on Thursday and Monday. On Thursday, the Panthers split with Keokuk, and both teams faltered on Monday.

The Panther girls’ team went 1-1. Mt. Pleasant crunched Keokuk 7-3, but fell in a nail-biter against SEC-leading Burlington, dropping the match 3-2.

Elly Manning went off for four goals against Keokuk. Charice Auwerda finished the day with two goals and three assists, and Evelyn Escobar ended the day with five saves.

Manning and Andrea Lopreato each found goals against Burlington. Mt. Pleasant had to battle from two goals down on two different occasions in that game, but the Panthers ran out of time in a rally attempt.

The Mt. Pleasant boys put together a late rally against Keouk before falling 3-2. Ben Carthey and Jason Kruse each had goals in that game, and Nathan Peiffere finished with seven saves.

On Monday against Burlington, Kruse had the only Mt. Pleasant shot on goal. Rudy Ruiz Motta had eight saves in net.

The Panther girls are now 6-4 overall and 4-3 in SEC play. The boys are 1-11 and 0-8. Both play at Fairfield on Thursday.