MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Sting girls club soccer teams opened its 2021 spring season with talent, teamwork, and tenacity.
After falling in their first match last weekend to Freedom FC of Galena, the U10 girls team recovered and refocused with resilience and resolve on Saturday as they played Old Town Soccer Club (OTSC) of Logan. Parents lined the field at Hiawatha Park in Mount Vernon, observing social distance guidelines while cheering for their players.
The first goal of the match came from Malorie Fawcett, who made an attack on goal from the outside defensive back position. OTSC equalized with a goal just before the close of the first half. The Sting team dominated the second half with mumerous scoring opportunities.
Lilee Simon led the team in shots, frequently receiving the ball from midfielders Hanley Harrmann and Kinsley Ferguson. During an offensive attack, Ferguson was fouled and taken to the ground in the penalty box, earning her team a free kick. Fawcett took the kick from the penalty spot and scored a second goal for her team.
Strong offensive contributions and shots on goal came from Ellianna Waters, Payton Carlson, Macie Moore, and Vera Keller, who served as a guest player from the U9 Sting girls team.
The defense was anchored by Gracie McDonald with solid defensive play from Reagan Cline, Clara Mussard (GK), and Annabel Martin, who offered strong support to the attack on the outside. Incredible defense, excellent goalkeeping from Mussard and Carlson, and an entire team effort resulted in 1 2-1 Sting win over OTSC.
The U9 girls team opened its season playing Ohio Extreme Soccer Club (OESC) in at Kids America Sports Complex in Coshocton. Kelsey McCallen opened the match with a quick goal for Sting U9G in the first minute of play. She completed a hat trick in the first half with two additional goals assisted by Madeline Lewis and Vera Keller. Keller scored the final Sting goal on a near post shot, placing the ball in the back of the net to lift the team to a 4-3 win.
The team had repeated scoring opportunities with attacks on goal by Hadley Curry, Delaney Newell, Avery Radabaugh, and Natalie Buena.
Lainey Burak, Lucy Maleszewski, Iris Gotschall, and Newell were exceptional on defense attacking up the wings and shutting down their opponents’ possession. Kendall, “The Keeper,” Theibert allowed only one goal in the first half and also added to the second half attack from midfield.
The two girls teams began in the fall of 2019 when several girls from Mount Vernon were interested in all-girls league and tournament play. Previously, the Mount Vernon Soccer Association had only fielded one all-girls team combining players from three age groups. For the first time in Sting history, an all-girls team was formed at the U9 age group.
After an exceptional experience for the first 2019-2020 U9G team, additional players pursued playing for the Sting club and the girls program grew from one team of 12 players to two teams with 24 players for the 2020-2021 season.
Both teams are back in action this weekend as the U9 girls play a second OESC team Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Hiawatha Park in Mount Vernon. The U10 girls play Saturday at 4 p.m. at Highlands Park in Westerville against Express FC and return home to Hiawatha Park on Sunday for a 3 p.m. match with DSX Wolves from Dublin.
