S-C goes on offensive in league win

A soggy field could not slow down the high-flying Smith-Cotton Lady Tigers soccer team on Friday night.
 
The Lady Tigers used a relentless offensive attack to build a 4-0 halftime lead on the way to a 6-0 win over the O’Hara Celtics.

“The field conditions didn’t help either team. It was good to beat that team, another conference win for us,” said Smith-Cotton coach Shawn Cairer.

Freshman Tiffany Wehmeyer scored three times to pace the Lady Tigers’ offense. Those scores pushed Wehmeyer’s season total to  15 goals.

“It was kind of a continuation from yesterday against Harrisonville (a 6-2 win),” said Cairer of his team’s offensive aggressiveness. “We just want to put high pressure all over the field. They definitely did that. Proud again of the way they’re playing. Seem to be working well together.”

Even though the Lady Tigers controlled the tempo in the first 10 minutes, they couldn’t get any clean shots on goal.

That changed quickly when Wehmeyer broke in on the right side and was pushed down in front of the goal, leading to a penalty shot.

Jessica Greer did the honors on the penalty kick, knocking the ball into the left corner of the goal to put Smith-Cotton in front 1-0.

Ten minutes later, Greer sent a crossing pass into the middle that Wehmeyer headed into the goal.

Smith-Cotton (6-1, 3-0 West Central Conference) continued to keep the pressure on O’Hara goalkeeper Blaire Wyatte.

More precision passing led to the third score, as Greer took a pass from Meagan Klein and punched it in with her left foot.

Cairer was pleased with the way his team moved the ball.

“They’re making smart decisions and letting the ball do the work instead of players. It’s good, it’s good,” he said.

Another foul in the box set up a second penalty kick for the Lady Tigers. Wehmeyer got her second goal  when she blasted in the penalty kick, giving Smith-Cotton a 4-0 advantage at halftime.

The opening minutes of the second half featured physical play as the Celtics tried to slow down the Smith-Cotton offensive bursts.

O’ Hara did put some pressure on the Lady Tigers defense, but Smith-Cotton goalie Cristian Sharp turned away those shots, preserving the shutout.

The Lady Tigers made it 5-0 when Ceci Perez worked her way up the left side of the field, pushed a shot toward the goal, and Wehmeyer was waiting in front to punch in the rebound.

Perez completed the scoring with some nice individual work.

After breaking past the defense, she lofted a shot over the charging keeper that found the net to make it 6-0.