Panthers misfire against Nikes

MT. PLEASANT — It wasn’t the ending to the regular season that the Mt. Pleasant soccer wanted Monday night.

Both the boys and girls squads were outdone on their home field, with the girls falling 4-3 and the boys 9-0.

For the girls, it was match that was always in reach.

At the break, the Nikes held the advantage with a 2-1 lead.

Mt. Pleasant battle back in the second topping their first half total by scoring two of their own, but Notre Dame did the same.

The Nikes matched their two first half goals to put the Panther away.

With the loss, the girls drop to 8-6 on the season. They will take on Iowa City Liberty (7-8) to begin the postseason on Friday in the Class 2A Region 5 tournament.

On the boys side, it was a hard-fought battle against the fifth rated Nikes.

Mt. Pleasant couldn’t get any offense going against the stout Notre Dame defense.

It wasn’t just the Nikes defense that was firing.

Following the first half, Mt. Pleasant found itself with a 5-0 deficit.

The second was much of the same as Notre Dame found the back of the net four more times before the final whistle.

The loss drops the Panthers to 1-15. They will have a tough first opponent in the opening round of the Class 2A Region 6 tournament in Southeast Conference foe Fort Madison (12-5) on Thursday.