Panther girls soccer scores win one

Lexi Rounds' first goal as a varsity soccer player was an unforgettable one.

The Panther freshman scored from close distance shortly after the start of the second overtime off an assist by Grace Root to give Creston a 3-2 home win over Kuemper Catholic in Hawkeye 10 conference play Tuesday.

Opportunities around net were plentiful toward the end of regulation and in the overtime periods.

“It was very intense," Rounds said. "We were in (double) overtime so it was a really exciting moment and I just shot it.”

Creston coach Kim Lauffer has wanted her forwards to be in position to "clean up the trash," around the goal. Second chance opportunities will present Creston many of its scoring chances going forward.

“She was there to pick up the trash and stick it in the net when she needed to be," Lauffer said. "That’s what we’ve been trying to get the forwards to do, so I was very pleased with that.”

The Panthers grabbed the lead early when Root's corner kick bounced off Knights keeper Madison Leonard's hands and backward into the net.

Creston did posses the ball on the Knights' half of the field for much of the first half. Toward the end of the half, the Panthers stopped winning possession. Kuemper pushed several through balls past the Creston defense on the counterattack.

The Knights' Brooklyn Bakke took full advantage, scoring two goals on passes pushed past the Creston back line.

“If we are content to let them win the ball and bring it down instead of being the first to it then that’s exactly what happens," Lauffer said. "The game flips over and they start ripping shots on us and then we get tired.”

Kuemper Catholic had more opportunities to score when Creston failed to clear shots around its own net, but could not take advantage.

Lauffer cited improved midfield play as the next step toward becoming a team that wins consistently.

When midfielder Monica Guzman stepped up in the second half with 24 minutes left on a long boot from well outside of the box to tie the game 2-2, Lauffer found reason to be happy with the increased aggressiveness of her midfielders.

It was Guzman's first varsity goal.

“It felt amazing because I’ve never scored a goal and I’m a senior," Guzman said. "Getting that goal definitely boosted our team I think.”

But it was a freshman, Rounds, who will be remembered as the hero of the day.

"I can't wait to win some more," Rounds said.

No stats were available from the girls game as of press time.

Panther boys lay smack down on Eagles

UP NEXT — Creston (1-3, 1-2) travels to Chariton Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

UNDERWOOD — In the spring of 2016, the Underwood boys soccer team whipped Creston 5-0. Fast forward a year, and it was the Panthers who beat down Underwood, this time by the score of 6-0.

A win over West Central Valley Thursday translated to a new and improved attitude for the Panthers.

“We travelled determined to bring the win," Creston coach Lucian Diaconu said. "The last win that we had, it was crucial for our confidence. When we walked her eon this field, we felt a little more confidence.”

After Underwood controlled possession for an early portion of the game, Evan Jacobson got the Panthers scoring by stealing the ball, working all the way to the goal and finishing for a 1-0 lead.

That score held to the half.

“After we put the first goal in, we possessed more," Diaconu said. "In the second half we dominated with passes and they were crushing down.”

Creston exploded for five second half goals to win by the final tally.

Gavin Woods scored, Ben Irr added two second-half goals, Matthew Borha put in a header, and Peres Reed added the final goal.

“We did not stop. We did not settle on a certain score," Diaconu said. "I told the boys we’ve got to keep pushing, keep pushing and stay aggressive.”

Isaac Wignall asisted on two goals.

UP NEXT — Creston will compete at a four-team tournament in Winterset on Saturday.

Statistics

Creston (6) — Evan Jacobson 20:28 first half; Ben Irr 32:24 second half; Gavin Woods 24:55 second half; Matthew Borha 20:33 second half; Irr 10:44 second half; Peres Reed 4:17 second half. Shots (on goal) — 40 (21 on goal). Individual shots (on goal)— Irr 12 (6), Woods 10 (3), Jacobson 6 (2), Brenden McDowell 5 (4), Reed 3 (2); Wignall 2 (2) Cole Higgins 1. Keeper Saves — Payton Pryor 2.