Panthers score goals in recent close losses

   Monticello found the back of the opponent’s net a couple of times, and played a pair of close matches, but was unable to come up with a win in four recent girls soccer contests.

   The Panthers (0-7-1) lost to West Branch 3-1 April 25 at home, fell 6-0 at West Liberty April 28, were edged 2-1 a home in a makeup match against Northeast of Goose Lake April 29, and were blanked 8-0 at Anamosa May 2.

   Against West Branch, the Panthers trailed 3-0 in the second half when Zoe Lagunes scored on a breakaway down the right side to prevent a shutout.

   The Bears scored in the first minute of the opening half, but after that the Panthers kept them off the scoreboard until after halftime.

   “That was one of our best efforts so far this year,” Monticello coach Bruce Feuling said. “Our young ladies fought hard.”

   Lydia Ahlrich was the Panther goalkeeper, making 39 saves.

   The match at West Liberty was a windy one, and the host Comets took advantage by scoring five first half goals with the wind at their backs.

   “Our defense played well, and while we did make some runs down the field, we did not manage to get a shot on goal,” Feuling said.

   Sam Ruchti made 21 saves as the Panther goalkeeper.

   Northeast scored first in the April 29 match in Monticello, with 13 minutes left in the half, but the Panthers got the equalizer about a minute later on a goal by Emerson Verhagen. The Rebels answered that with their second goal with about 10 minutes left, and their 2-1 lead held up the rest of the way.

   “Both teams were evenly matched, and they played with a lot of energy,” Feuling said.

   Ruchti made 16 saves.

   Then came the match at Anamosa Friday, in which the Blue Raiders took a 5-0 lead by halftime and went on to win 8-0.

   “It might have been the overcast and gloomy weather, but our normally reliable defense gave up four goals in the first seven minutes,” the coach said. “We managed to hold them to four more goals in the remaining 73 minutes.”

   (Sports editor’s note: Emersen Verhagen contributed to this story.)

April 25

(at Monticello)

W. Branch   1   2  –  3

Monticello  0   1  –  1

TEAM STATISTICS

     Shots on goal – West Branch 49, Monticello 2.

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Goal – Zoe Lagunes.

     Shots on goal – Zoe Lagunes 1, Leah Schemmel 1.

     Saves – Lydia Ahlrichs 39.

April 28

(at West Liberty)

Monticello  0   0  –  0

W. Liberty   5   1  –  6

TEAM STATISTICS

     Shots on goal – West Liberty 18, Monticello 0.

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Saves – Sam Ruchti 21.

April 29

(at Monticello)

Northeast   2   0  –  2

Monticello  1   0  –  1

TEAM STATISTICS

     Shots on goal – Northeast 14, Monticello 4.

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Goal – Emersen Verhagen.

     Shots on goal – Emersen Verhagen 3, Lydia Ahlrichs 1.

     Saves – Sam Ruchti 16.

May 2

(at Monticello)

Monticello  0   0  –  0

Anamosa     5   3  –  1

TEAM STATISTICS

     Shots on goal – Anamosa 30, Monticello 1.

MONTICELLO STATISTICS

     Shots on goal – Emersen Verhagen 1.

     Saves – Sam Ruchti 19.