LocalSportsJournal.com
HART — Hart’s girls soccer team finished 1-1-1 in its own tournament Saturday.
Hart began the day with a scoreless draw with Wyoming Potters House then dropped a 3-2 decision to Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart. In the finale the Pirates defeated Grand Rapids Kenowa Hils, 5-0.
The Pirates controlled possession for most of their game with Potters House and limited the Pumas’ chances within the 18-yard box.
Sophomore striker Addison Kokx had a 1-on-1 opportunity with the keeper, but couldn’t gain control and the Pumas’ keeper made a crucial save by blocking the ball with her face.
Hart had another chance in the closing seconds when sophomore Brianna Arjona got the ball just outside the 6-yard box, but the Pumas brought her down with a host of defenders.
In the second game, the Irish displayed good quickness and strong passing, and the Pirates initially struggled to cope with that combination. The Irish took a 2-0 lead in the first half before the Pirates managed to get one back when Mariana VanAgtmael picked up a loose ball that came out from the penalty box from a corner kick. VanAgtmael fed the ball back to Devyn Adams, who had taken the corner kick, and she fired a curling shot that dropped between the Irish keeper’s legs to make it a 2-1 game at the half.
Hart made a tactical change starting the second half by placing sophomore Kailey Edenburn to mark up the Irish top player and she was able to do just that. But the Irish notched their third goal off a well-placed cross to the back post.
The Pirates scored their final goal when sophomore Brooklyn Storms headed the ball on to senior Julia Greiner, who took a one-touch volley to chip the keeper for the tally.
Hart got off to a fast start against the Knights, junior striker Sydney Goodrich knocked in a shot from the 18-yard box that got inside the back post after a pass from Greiner.
Unfortunately, the Pirates weren’t able to extend their lead further and finished the first half with a narrow 1-0 lead.
Greiner scored the second goal of the game early in the second half, taking a pass on the left wing from Goodrich and fired a shot from the penalty box. Senior striker Sandy Salgado took a curling pass from Greiner and slotted the ball past the keeper.
They combined again seconds later to make it 4-0, and senior Melanie Arjona, who normally plays defense, notched the final tally.
Hart (2-4-4 overall) travels to Manistee for a West Michigan Conference game Monday.
