East scores eight goals against rival

In a rivalry game, one thing a team doesn't need is extra motivation.

The West High girls soccer team learned that the hard way on Tuesday afternoon. East pounded its Region 5 rival 8-1 in a game that may not have been as close as the score indicated.

When the Leopards got to the soccer field to warm up before the game, they found their field had been modified just a bit. Black spray paint had been used to place a big "W" right at the midfield stripe, and the word "West" had been written on the East sideline. Whether it was the prank that angered the Leopards, or simply the fact that they are a very good soccer team, it did not take long for East to establish its dominance.

Less than one minute into the contest, East forward Laura Ellison intercepted a pass about 25 yards from the West goal and fired a shot past goalie Sydney Reed. Four minutes later, Katie Reineke added a long-shot goal of her own. With less than five minutes gone, East had already posted two goals, more than it would need to get the win.

"We moved the ball quick out there," said East coach Mike Kernodle. "We can be very dangerous when we move the ball quickly."

The team continued to make nice passes and runs to open space. The midfielders of East dominated the play. Reineke, Beth Storey, Emily Coehlo and twin sisters Sydney and Amelia Stoker worked well at creating passing angles to advance up the field as a single unit. Their passing was so crisp and quick that they were stringing together 10 and 11 passes without allowing the Panthers to touch the ball.

The ball-control offense created numerous scoring chances. Kiersten Nilsson capitalized in the 21st minute on a pass from Ellison. Taylor Nicolaides got credit for a goal after a hustling play got her the ball on the sideline. She crossed the ball toward the net and it deflected off a Panther for an own goal. Coaches always preach the importance of the first and last couple of minutes in a half, so East finished the half just like it started. In the last minute, Coehlo capped off a five-goal half after Maggie Schmidt fed her with a pass across the middle.

Being down 5-0 at halftime is not an easy thing to overcome, but West did not quit. It continued to put forth a good effort. The hard work paid off in the 51st minute when Sarah Scott scored a goal for the Panthers on an assist by Anna Sullivan.

The Leopards added three more goals before the final whistle as Nilsson, Reineke and Nicolaides each added a second goal of the contest.