Holtman, Mitchell ignite Spoofhounds’ offense
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Spoofhounds senior forward Mollie Holtman weaves between Benton defenders Thursday during an 8-0 win at the Hound Pound.
Just two days after a frustrating one-goal defeat at home, the Maryville girls’ soccer team rounded back into form Thursday at the Hound Pound.
The Spoofhounds, behind four goals from senior Mollie Holtman and an improved passing attack at the offensive end of the pitch, dominated Benton in Midland Empire Conference action, 8-0. The blowout win came after Maryville fell to Smithville Tuesday, 2-1.
“That was our hope. (Bouncing back) was the game plan,” head coach Dale Reuter said. “We knew it was going to be a tough one with Smithville and we would’ve liked to have been on top in that one, obviously. … It’s great to get back on track. You’ve got to have that good karma. Good karma can last a long time; you want that bad karma to go away quickly.”
Holtman’s four goals, the first of which came on a nimble assist across the box from sophomore Lydia Mitchell, helped the offense explode after being held in check by the Warriors.
Mitchell would finish with three assists on the day, showcasing an effective partnership with Holtman at the top of the Spoofhound attack.
“(Their bond) is definitely growing,” Reuter said. “I was just taking a look at the assists that Lydia has right now, and I’m not going to jinx myself with that, but she’s really got a lot this year. They’re starting to find each other and others. … You’ve got to have those two working well together and finding each other on the pitch. That’s when the magic starts happening.”
The first goal from Holtman came with 22:28 left in the opening half after Mitchell pushed a pass across the 18-yard box. Holtman came up with a simple finish, scooting the ball across the ground and inside the back post.
With 7:07 left in the first half, things began to break open. Holtman found herself one-on-one with Benton senior keeper Macy Vogt and easily finished the breakaway opportunity.
Just more than a minute later, after a Maryville corner kick was cleared away, Hounds senior defender Leah Jasinski lined up from nearly 35 yards away and squared up a shot. It sailed over Vogt’s outstretched arm and slid down the back of the net for a 3-0 advantage.
“We were yelling at her to take (the shot),” Reuter said. “Honestly, that’s what I want them to do. When they leave you alone and you’re inside here, you take that shot. A lot of things can happen — the goalie can muff it, it can bounce off somebody, it can come off the crossbar. You’re giving yourself a chance. Or you can just bury it. … Good players take those shots.”
From there, the rout was on. Holtman came up with a hat trick with 3:53 left until halftime on another assist from Mitchell. Her fourth goal would start Maryville’s scoring efforts in the second half, finding the crease with her left foot at the 22:38 mark.
With 15:20 remaining, Mitchell found sophomore midfielder Becky Meyers, who placed a shot between Vogt’s legs for the Hounds’ sixth goal.
Sophomore midfielder Maddie Holtman got on the board with 7:28 to go, blasting a penalty kick past the fingertips of Vogt. The final tally came with 4:05 on the clock as Maddie Holtman swerved between two Cardinals defenders and easily pushed a shot front post.
With the win, Maryville (14-6) is back on track with just three regular-season games left on the schedule. That trio of contests begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at home.
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Sophomore midfielder Becky Meyers picks out a Maryville teammate on Thursday as the Hounds took down Benton at home, 8-0.
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Senior defender Leah Jasinski lines up a shot from nearly 35 yards away, scoring on the play to give Maryville a 3-0 lead in an eventual 8-0 win against Benton.
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Hounds sophomore Lydia Mitchell fights for a 50-50 ball against Benton during Thursday’s 8-0 win for Maryville at the Hound Pound.
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Maryville senior winger Kylie Reuter crosses a ball toward the box in an 8-0 victory over Benton on Thursday, the Hounds’ 14th win of the year.
