Soccer girls end one game short of State appearance

The season ended one game shy of a State berth for the Clear Lake girls soccer team. The Lions were defeated, 7-0, by Nevada Monday night, June 9. Details of that game will appear next week.

CL 4, GHV 0
 Clear Lake began it’s quest for a State tournament berth Tuesday, June 3, in Garner. The conditions were less than ideal, with a steady rain falling the entire game, but the Lions didn’t let the rain slow them down. Logan Anderson scored three goals and Clear Lake won the quarterfinal round game, 4-0.
 “I feel that we controlled the tempo from the beginning,” said Coach Nick DiMarco.
 The first score of the evening came in the 13th minute of the game, provided by Kaye Faber off of a deflection from Logan Anderson.
 Anderson was next to score. Six-minutes later, off an assist by Rachael Matthew, her kick found the net.
 The half time score was 2-0
 The second half started with the same intensity that the Lions demonstrated when finishing the first. Anderson scored the last two Lions’ goals early in the second half to secure the victory. Her final goal was off a spot-on crossing pass from Baily Kibsgaard.
 Ellie Biebesheimer had five saves on the evening for the Lions.
 Bri Bier had six shots on goal for the Cardinals and Hannah Lau recorded nine saves for GHV.
 “Clear Lake is a good team and deserved to win,” said GHV Head Coach Josh Banse. “Our team has improved with every season and will return nine starters and three subs from this year’s squad. The girls are already in the weight room and doing speed workouts to get ready for next year.”

CL 2, Webster City 0
 The Clear Lake Girls soccer team recorded their second straight shut out in regional play. The Lions defeated Webster City Friday, June 6, in the Regional semi-final played in Humboldt. The Lynx advanced to the semis with a 3-2 victory over Humboldt.
 Coach DiMarco said the Lions saw a much-improved Webster City team in the post-season.
 “The score was tied 0-0 at half time and being without three of our players because of the Washington DC trip we were very tired,” explained the coach.
Tired or not, the Lions would not be denied.
Logan Anderson received a long pass from Madison Faber and skirted around two Webster City defenders for the first score in the 71st minute of the game.
After that score the Lynx had to abandon their strategy of packing eight or nine players back on defense. The change in strategy proved to be a mistake, as Erin O’Tool sent another long ball to the Lions’ side of the field. This time it was Ivy Hogg on the receiving end of an assist and she sent a ball over the keeper’s head for a goal in the 74th minute of the game.
“The defense played extremely well, turning back attack after attack by the Lynx,” added DiMarco.
Ellie Biebesheimer was perfect in goal, turning back 10 shots on goal.