Cottonwood posts shutout over scrappy Granger

It was a mismatch from the beginning. It almost always is when the Granger soccer team takes the field. But there is something different about this year's edition — hope.

The Lancers won their first region game in six years earlier this season, and it is not a foregone conclusion that the team will give up double-digit goals and be shutout. That is not to say that the team is ready to compete for a championship, but when it laces them up, the opponent is going to have to work for the win. Cottonwood found that out as the Colts worked hard to get a 4-0 win over Granger on Tuesday afternoon.

"They pack it in defensively and really make you work to get everything," said Cottonwood coach Amanda Bollinger. "I respect what they do. They make it tough on you and it is a much more competitive game."

Because of the style, nearly all the play was carried by Cottonwood. Granger regularly kept nine and sometimes even 10 players behind the ball leaving only team captain and unquestioned leader Rosey Bassett to fend for herself up top. It may not have been the prettiest soccer, but it has kept the team in games.

"We figure that if we can keep it close, then we have a chance," said Granger coach Hyrum Oakeson. "We are still building the program and know that this gives us our best opportunity."

Cottonwood continued to press the attack and constantly peppered the net. If not for some great saves from Granger goalkeeper Breanna Johnson, it could have been ugly. Cottonwood's dynamic duo of Canada Clawson and Stefani Shiozaki controlled the middle up front and in the midfield. They distributed the ball out wide and kept the ball moving.

"The nice thing about having those two as the team leaders is that they don't care if they are the ones that score," added Bollinger. "They love to pass and set up their teammates just as much as scoring themselves. That really helps our team get going."

Cottonwood finally benefitted from its pressure as it scored in the 17th minute when freshman Grace Amis lofted a perfect shot to the back corner from a tough angle on the right side. It added a second goal in the 32nd minute on a nice header from a Leah Chambers cross.

The Colts added two second-half goals as Sarah Hoffman and Karlee Paloukos each scored an unassisted goal in similar fashion — each dribbled the ball in from the left side of the wing and got to the middle before finishing from about 12 yards out.

"I think that we are peaking at just the right time," said Bollinger. "We are playing better now than we were in the beginning, and hopefully we can just continue to improve."

Cottonwood holds the No. 3 seed in the region currently and its goals are different than that of Granger.