HS Girls Soccer: Union blanks Sumner 2-0

09-13-2022

Union 2, Sumner 0
by Alex Benzegala

Sumner, WA – in a non-conference clash of unbeatens, the Union Titans girls soccer team went on the road to Sunset Stadium and defeated the previously unbeaten Sumner Spartans, in a 2-0 win in Sumner.

The Spartans went on the attack early and had some early chances, but the Titans struck first in the first half when a Spartans defensive clearance hit the post and Senior Maya Woods put it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Junior Maddie Cooke was credited with the assist.

The score would remain 1-0 at halftime, when the Spartans came out firing in the second frame, creating more possession and chances in the final third of the pitch, but were unable to beat junior goalkeeper Stephanie Leckwold, who made 4 crucial saves in the match. Sumner had golden opportunities when Junior forward Ari Hill rifled a free kick to the near post where Leckwold made a diving stop. Hill had another chance when she fired a shot from long range, and again Leckwold came up big.

The Titans did not have many chances in the 2^nd half, but they were opportunistic as Woods, a Metro State University commit took a shot to force Sumner freshman goalkeeper Kennedy Jackson to make an excellent save but she could not control the ball which rolled out and set up Union freshman Taylor McCullough perfectly as she chipped it in over the top of Jackson and scored her first high school goal off the rebound.

The insurance goal came in the 67th minute and put the game out of reach for the Spartans who drop to 2-1 on the season while Union remains undefeated with a 3-0-1 mark. Sumner begins SPSL 4A league play on Thursday at Bethel with a 7:30 kick-off time. The Titans will host Glacier Peak at 1pm on Saturday in another non-league contest.

ESN MVP of the game

The player of the game for the Titans was Stephanie Leckwold, she was credited with 4 saves, but there were many other times where she either came from off of her line to retrieve the ball or impact the game in other ways. Leckwold did benefit from some strong backline support, Titans Coach Kelcey Burris had high praise for defender Anna Threlkeld, Burris also pointed out the solid effort from forward Avery Schilling. But Lechwold was our clear choice pitching the shut out.

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