It might not have been the prettiest shot in the world, but when the ball fell at the feet of St. Mary's Springs striker Anna Willis, the junior made no mistake about where the ball would end up.
Willis and senior captain Ellie Judkins each scored on Tuesday evening in the 2-1 win on the road against New Holstein.
Willis' shot was low to the goalkeeper's right side and found the bottom corner with just under four minutes left. The goal gave the Ledgers (1-0) a 2-0 lead at the time.
However, about 30 seconds later, the Huskies (0-1) tightened the game right back up. Freshman Sophia Hoppa got the ball on the left side and fired a shot high into the net, making for a tense final three minutes.
In the first half, Judkins scored the Ledgers' lone goal. Willis thought she had doubled the lead later in the half, but she was offside.
Judkins and Willis each assisted the other's goal. Springs coach Paul Haase said the offensive output from the duo of Judkins and Willis is what he expects from them all season.
"Put the ball in the back of the net," Haase said.
Judkins controlled the center of the midfield for the Ledgers. Haase said he thinks her hustle and her soccer IQ are what sets her apart.
"Her hustle on the field is what makes Ellie, Ellie," Haase said. "She's a great player, she has a great knowledge of the game."
Haase said he doesn't think it wasn't the best he thinks his team could play, but said the weather did not help.
"I think the conditions and the field really slowed us down," Haase said. "But we're young, [the players] are learning.
"Field conditions really wore on the girls."
It was a windy, cold night with gusts up to 37 mph and temps dropping below 40 degrees by the end of the game. The Ledgers were attacking into the wind in the first half.
Freshman goalkeeper Analise Coon finished with 3 saves.
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