Panthers win on Schleh’s late goal

PLYMOUTH – Junior forward Angie Schleh’s goal with only four minutes remaining gave the Plymouth Panthers a 2-1 girls soccer victory over West Bend West Thursday afternoon at Panther Field.

Sophomore midfielder Christina Schicker assisted on the winning goal. It was Schleh’s first varsity goal. The nonconference win evened the Panthers’ record at 1-1.

“We had a much better start in our second game of the season. The girls approached the game with the appropriate intensity and took it to West with a goal in the first minute,” said Panther first-year head coach Sam Schroeder.

Junior forward Marisa Raeder put PHS ahead 1-0 with a goal on an assist by Schleh.

The Spartans tied the match early in the second half on Crystal Farand’s goal, assisted by Lauren Watry.

Schroeder thought his team’s superior fitness level was evident in the second half, especially late, and West had trouble keeping up.

The Panthers led in shots on goal, 10-9. PHS goalkeeper Marike Van de Pas and Spartan keeper Jennifer Meyers had eight saves each.

Schroeder said Raeder, Schleh and junior forward Clarice Hnilicka stood out.

“Marisa was dangerous all game long, taking on defenders in 1-on-1 situations and getting behind their back line for several breakaways,” he said.

“Angie got involved in both goals with a workmanlike effort.

“Clarice did a lot of the dirty work – pressuring defenders and disrupting West’s ability to connect their back line and the midfield. She caused West to turn over the ball often which created scoring opportunities for others,” Schroeder said.

Corey Petzold of Kiel, Schroeder’s former soccer teammate and roommate at Lakeland College, is the Spartans’ head coach. They graduated from Lakeland in 2008.