MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Sting U10 and U9 girls club soccer teams opened their spring season with talent, teamwork and tenacity to notch a pair of victories on Saturday, April 10.
After falling in their first match the previous weekend to Freedom FC of Galena, the U10 girls team recovered to beat Old Town Soccer Club (OTSC) of Logan 2-1 thanks to a penalty kick by Malorie Fawcett for the game winner.
Fawcett scored both goals. Earlier in the game, she made an attack on goal from the outside defensive back position. OTSC equalized with a goal just before the close of the first half.
The Sting team dominated the second half with many scoring opportunities. Lilee Simon led the team in shots, frequently receiving the ball from midfielders Hanley Harrmann and Kinsley Ferguson.
During an offensive attack, Ferguson was fouled and taken to the ground in the penalty box, earning her team a free kick. Fawcett took the kick from the penalty spot and scored the second goal for her team.
Strong offensive contributions and shots on goal came from Ellianna Waters, Payton Carlson, Macie Moore and Vera Keller, who served as a guest player from the Sting U9 girls team.
The defense was anchored by Gracie McDonald with solid defensive play from goalkeeper Clara Mussard, Reagan Cline and Annabel Martin, who offered strong support to the attack on the outside.
Kelsey McCallen scored a hat trick to help the Sting U9 girls team open their season by beating Ohio Extreme Soccer Club (OESC) 4-3 at Kids America Sports Complex in Coshocton.
McCallen opened the match with a quick goal for the Sting in the first minute of play. She completed the hat trick in the first half with two additional goals assisted by Madeline Lewis and Vera Keller. Keller scored the final Sting goal on a near post shot, placing the ball in the back of the net to lift the team to victory.
The team had many scoring opportunities, with attacks on goal by Hadley Curry, Delaney Newell, Avery Radabaugh and Natalie Buena.
Lainey Burak, Lucy Maleszewski, Iris Gotschall and Newell were exceptional on defense, attacking up the wings and shutting down their opponents’ possessions. Goalkeeper Kendall Theibert allowed only one goal in the first half and also added to the second-half attack from midfield.
The two teams began in the fall of 2019 when several girls from Mount Vernon were interested in an all-girls league and tournament play.
Previously, the Mount Vernon Soccer Association had only fielded one all-girls team, combining players from three age groups. For the first time in Sting history, an all-girls team was formed at the U9 age group.
After an exceptional experience for the first 2019–2020 U9G team, additional players pursued playing for the Sting club. The girls program grew from one team of 12 players to two teams with 24 players for the 2020–2021 season.
