MICDS Girls Soccer Wins Sixth in a Row

MICDS soccer player Hallie Nolan had not taken a penalty kick since she was in seventh grade.

But the senior looked like a veteran as she connected with her left foot to the right corner of the net past Westminster Christian goalkeeper Jensen Holt in a MWAA Red Conference contest at Westminster.

That gave the Rams a hard-earned victory and ended what was a marathon contest which featued 100 minutes of scoreless action and nine penalty kicks by each side.

"The last time I had taken a penalty kick was for my club team," Nolan said. "It was also the last one and determined whether we made the state tournament."

The results were the same as Nolan scored for her Minnetonka, Minnesota club team and did so again Monday against the Wildcats.

"I don't think it is very fair to decide a game this way but I still feel on top of the world," Nolan said. "I just tried for a spot in the lower corner on the right side and I was glad it went in."

The two teams had battled through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods with no goals. The best chances came in the second overtime with the Wildcats almost winning the game on a shot by Shelby Kehr, which hit the crossbar.

"I thought it was a well-played game by both teams," MICDS coach Michael Black said. "I think we had more possession but they had just as many scoring chances."

Black would have been happy with a regulation tie.

"I don't think you should decide a game with penalty kicks," Black said. "For some reason Americans hate ties and the decision was made to have the PK's. It was not fair to them and would not have been fair to us. This game deserved a tie."

MICDS was under pressure throughout the penalty kicks as it shot last. Westminster got goals from Kehr, Caoline Moore, Summer Smith and Chloe Carnahan in its five penalty kicks. The Rams responded with consecutive goals by Claire Ringenberg, Katherine Spataro, Madison Hovis and Caroline Militello after Holt had made a save on the first Ram attempt.

It then proceeded to a sudden death penalty kick situation. Both teams missed on their first try. MICDS' Sydney Saunders scored on a goal or go home situation after Haley Bettlach had scored for Westminster.

Both teams missed on their next attempt and Westminster's Meg Rasche shot high over the head of Ram keeper Campbell Torchin. Nolan finally sent everyone home with her game winner.

The victory was the sixth in a row for the Rams, who have allowed just one goal during that stretch. MICDS improved to 9-4 and is now 2-0 in the MWAA Red Division. Westminster fell to 2-2 in the league and 3-7 overall.

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