LEWISBURG — Tri-County North’s girls’ soccer team opened up its season against Dixie on Thursday, Aug. 24, with a convincing 5-1 victory.
Dixie got on the scoreboard first about five minutes into the game on a penalty kick from a collision in the box.
North’s Megan Hemp got the Lady Panthers back on track by converting on a pair of goals, one assisted by Hailey Thies and one all on her own by splitting a pair of defenders.
Hemp capped off a hat trick scoring on a penalty kick after Thies was taken down in the box to give North a 3-1 lead.
Outside midfielder Preston Lipinski finished off the first half scoring by burying one in the back of the net on an nice pass from Live Baldasare to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead.
“Preston and Liv both played solid games they kept the ball moving,” North coach Ted Thies said.
In the second half it looked as if North was going to run away with the game as Hailey Thies laid a well place ball at the feet of Hemp, who converted for her fourth goal of the game.
The Panthers had several more good looks at the goal only to have them hit crossbar and land into the goalies hands.
“All and all, I think we played a pretty good game,” Coach Thies said. “I thought we maybe should have exercised a little more patience in our shot selection, balls that should have been crosses were being shot and we need to clean that up when we get into league play. Had they been crosses I think that would have lead to some easy goal scoring opportunities.”
Coach Thies said he was able to get all of his players playing time in the win.
“I was very excited to see that the non-starters came in and held there own,” he said. “Two that come to my mind are Emelia Warnecke, her passes were timely and to the foot of her teammates. I also think Mykalia Manning, aka “Mikey”, did an excellent job. I put her in about every position on the field and she performed very wel. My confidence is growing with my non-starters and that is only going to make us a better team.”
Coach Thies said Taylor Green played a solid midfield and “our senior anchors in the back of Brooke Maleski and Hailey Stupp made sure that goalie Morgan Helman wasn’t under too much pressure. Morgan made some wonderful stops, she is as solid as they come.”
Thies said it as the perfect start to the season.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, the game was clean, no major injuries, and there was a very supportive home crowd which is always nice to see,” he said.
North’s next game was scheduled for Monday, Aug. 28, against Yellow Springs. The Panthers open league play on Thursday, Aug. 31 when they are to host Franklin-Monroe.
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