Tigers open with two close wins

The Howards Grove girls soccer team opened the season in encouraging fashion with a 1-0 nonconference win over visiting Manitowoc Lincoln Thursday afternoon.

Junior forward Brooke Schaller scored the winning goal with about 20 minutes left on a breakaway down the middle of the field.

The Tigers followed up the victory Friday afternoon with a 2-1 overtime victory over host Oshkosh Lourdes in nonconference play.

“I felt that our girls played very hard each and every play and definitely deserved the win,” said new Tiger head coach Eric Worth.

“We had multiple chances on goal and you have to credit their goalkeeper for making some very nice saves.

“For it being the first game of the year, I thought we had some nice buildups offensively and some great 1-2 passes to get the ball into the heart of their defense.

I was very impressed with our defense and the rotations they made when Mantiowoc was attacking.

Overall, I loved the enthusiasm and heart our team played with throughout and I feel it was a very solid win for our opener,” Worth said,

Tiger goalie Brittany Wehrmann made two saves. Howards led 8-3 in shots on goal.

LOURDES MATCH

Senior forward Natalie Jaeger’s goal two minutes into the sudden-death overtime period gave the Tigers the win.

Sophomore forward Brianna Morgen assisted on the game-winner when her shot bounced off the crossbar and Jaeger followed the ball into the net.

Morgen tied the match, 1-1, on a corner kick with 20 minutes remaining in regulation. Lourdes seized a 1-0 lead late in the first half on Abigail Schutzbank’s tally.

“We had many chances in the second half, however we just couldn’t find the back of the net,” Worth pointed out.

“I told the girls during our break before halftime that we needed to stick with our game plan and play simple, quick passes through the defense.”

The Tigers outshot Lourdes 12-3.