North cruises past Webster County, 6-1

Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com   

DIXON - Like any good team, the ability to make adjustments can often provide the winning edge. The Madisonville-North Hopkins girls soccer team scored three goals in both halves against Webster County, but it was the latter half that pleased coach John Tichenor the most after he gave the girls a half-time speech. The Lady Maroons put those lessons to work in the second half in an eventual 6-1 victory.

Tichenor said North (6-3) went through the motions at times, but he was pleased by the aggressive second-half play, especially in the first 10-15 minutes of the break. That's when Alex Whittington and Mason Howard each scored to give the Lady Maroons a 5-0 edge.

At halftime, Tichenor told the team the Lady Maroons must work the ball offensively down the sides to avoid the Webster (2-2-2) defenders packed in the middle.

"The concept was to play the ball wide to the corner flags into that space and let our offensive players run onto it," he said. "In the meantime, that spreads Webster County and opens up the gaps in the middle where we can serve balls in.

"It's the same concept, if you're playing a basketball game. If you always feed the post and the post is doing well, it's eventually going to open up that three-point shot."

Senior Laura Rao scored with 16:40 left to put North ahead 6-0. It was Rao's second goal of the night. The score came on an indirect free kick, which deflected off the Webster wall and into goal.

Overall, the Lady Maroons outshot Webster 37-4.

"We were out there and (Webster) knew what to expect and they played pretty well holding us to six goals with that many opportunities," Rao said.

Rao provided the assist on the game's first goal by Alex Whittington eight minutes into action. Thirteen minutes later, Rao knocked home a rebound after Ellen Whittington's shot.

Freshman Penny Pluimer scored on an assist from Howard in the first half's closing minutes. Pluimer returned the favor to Alex Whittington four minutes into the second half. Ten minutes passed before Howard scored on an assist from Ellen Whittington, who recorded two assists on the night.

Ellen Whittington said the team's play picked up in the second half.

"I think at the beginning, like (Tichenor) said, we were just playing kickball," she said. "The second half, we really worked together with our passes and did what coach asked us to do. I think it worked out for the best."

Lady Trojans coach Tom Welshans said his team didn't bring the right approach.

"I think a lot of it we were very defensive-minded today for an unknown purpose," he said. "We've been actually scoring a lot of goals this year. We just came out defensive-minded and a little intimidated and showed our youth."

On the other side of the field, Tichenor was happy with his defense's game.

"Defense was solid," he said. "We had (McKinsey) Durham in the back, who did a good job. We had (Katie) Offutt, Carli Whittington and Megan Hutchens did real well. I was pleased. I thought Emily McClure came in and gave good minutes and Haylee Taylor did well in the back, too."

North returns to action 10 a.m. Sept. 19 to open the Lady Donley Classic. Webster next plays 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Reidland.