WEST SALEM — The Holmen High School girls soccer team has created a special beginning of its season mostly through defensive execution, but its offense was dominant in its latest victory.
The Vikings (3-0-1 overall, 2-0-0 MVC) put the pressure on West Salem from the opening kickoff through the end of the game for a 3-1 victory on Tuesday night.
Holmen, which jumped two spots to No. 5 in the Division 2 state rankings released this week by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association, scored twice in the first half and once in the second half but forced the Panthers (1-2-1, 0-1-1) to work hard defensively all night.
“I think this season our front line has shown how dangerous they can be,” Holmen coach Nick Schellenger said. “We know West Salem is typically very well-organized.
“We talked before the game about some different ways to get behind, and what I was really proud of was their problem solving in the game.”
Sophomore Paige Olson scored her first goal of the season with an assist from junior Lydia Sader in the seventh minute before West Salem senior forward Emily Graham tied the game with an assist from senior Maya Hoff just a few minutes later.
Sader broke the tie and put her team in the lead for good with header on a cross from sophomore Sophie Seiler a few minutes after Graham’s goal.
Sader scored again in the second half with an assist from sophomore Amelia Dewey for the final margin, but the Vikings needed a continuous attack to find a way past West Salem goalkeeper Baylee Faucett, who stopped shot after shot.
Faucett stopped two shots in as many seconds during the 50th minute, blocking the initial shot with her hands, then turning and diving to the ground to stop the rebound from point-blank range.
Holmen junior Moira Linse finished with four saves in goal.
The Vikings have earned their state ranking by navigating the first four games without a loss and by allowing only one goal. Holmen has played two other Division 2 state-ranked teams — No. 7 Sauk Prairie and No. 8 River Falls — and now the Panthers, who qualified for last year’s state tournament.
“We are very aware that these are early rankings, but it’s not crazy to see us up there,” Shellenger said. “We’ve talked a lot on this team about a professional mindset, and it is a long, grueling season.”
Onalaska 6, Logan/Luther 0
ONALASKA — The Hilltoppers (4-3-1, 3-1-1 MVC) scored three goals in each half to take care of the visiting Rangers (3-2-1, 2-2-0).
Senior Isabella Cromheecke scored two goals and assisted on another for Onalaska, which has won two straight games and is 2-0-1 over its past three.
Junior Finley Walters and sophomore Ellie Thesing also scored twice each for the Hilltoppers in a game where sophomore goalkeeper Avery Cowley needed to make just one save.
Sophomore McKenna Alderman had two assists and junior Francesca Vriens one. Both of Alderman’s assists and the one from Vriens came in the first half.
Central 3, Richland Center 0
LA CROSSE — Senior Grace Wilkerson scored the 70th and 71st goals of her career to help the RiverHawks (4-1) win another game at Fields for Kids.
Wilkeron scored unassisted in the 28th minute, assisted on a Mae Yang goal in the 51st minute and scored with an assist from Ellia Dale in the 58th minute.
Cam Woyczik recorded the shutout without a save for Central.
Wilkerson has scored five goals this week and 10 this season.
Aquinas 3, Sparta 0
SPARTA — The Blugolds (7-1-0, 3-1-0 MVC) put 26 shots on target and held the Spartans without a shot in the first half.
Senior Molly Swift, sophomore Hannah Miller and sophomore Anna Binsfeld scored for Aquinas, which has won four straight games since a loss to Holmen.
Binsfeld and junior Morghan Gerling had assists for the Blugolds.
