Clear Lake opens season with a 3-1 win over GHV

The Clear Lake girls soccer team provided new head coach Steve Faber with a win in the season opener Thursday, April 7.  The Lions topped Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, 3-1.

“For the first game of the season,  I was pleased.  We need to keep working hard and take it one game at a time,” said Faber.

Senior Erin O’Tool had two goals and an assist to lead the team.

The Lions struck quickly, with Milo Dugan scoring the Lions’ first goal less than two minutes into the match.  The score came off a scoring attempt by O’Tool that was deflected by the GHV goalie Morgan Westendorf into the path of a charging Dugan.

“Our defensive back field of Bailey Maulsby, Jessica Faber, Taylor Hill and Lexie Holtz did a nice job of keeping the game on their side of the field,” added Coach Faber.   “The mid field play of sophomores Krystle Lu, Rissa Barragy, Katelyn Moore and Madi Wendel was good.  They ran the field all night, maintaining the offensive pressure and helping out on the defensive side when necessary.”

The coach also praised goalie Ellie Biebesheimer, who had nine saves.

“Ellie was aggressive in the goal box with 9 saves and coming out of the net when needed,” said Faber.

GHV Coach Josh Banse said Clear Lake used perfect strategy to win.

“Erin O’Tool played outstanding.  She is a very good soccer player,” said Banse.  “I was still happy with how we played in the second half on both sides of the field.  If you are going to take a loss, it is always better now than later in the season or at Regionals.  I think we are going in the right direction.  We are still playing around with lineups and rotations.  It is early in the season and we still have things to work on.”

Emily Howke scored GHV’s goal, with an assist from Hannah Lau.  Morgan Westendorf had 12 saves in goal for the Cardinals.