For the Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — The Mt. Vernon Marauders were not shut out in any game for the entire 2017 season.
For 60 minutes Monday night, it appeared as if that streak could come to an end.
But the floodgates opened for the Marauders once the clock ticked past 20 minutes remaining, and they defeated their county and conference rival, Greenfield-Central, 3-1.
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“I give a lot of credit to Greenfield,” Mt. Vernon coach Steve Williams said after the game. “Games between Mt. Vernon and Greenfield are always like this.”
In the first half, a defensive battle ensued as both schools garnered only one shot on goal each during the half. Mt. Vernon, a team with offensive firepower, caused Greenfield-Central to deploy a defensive approach, which worked well for a time.
“Lucy Brand played a great game tonight,” Cougars coach Erin Clark said. “We played her a bit deeper tonight to try and control the ball a little bit more.”
For all their defensive effort, it was the Cougars who obtained the first clear scoring chance, as Brand looped in a cross that Jaeden Ailes headed inches wide after winning a 50-50 ball against the Mt. Vernon keeper.
It was set pieces that allowed Mt. Vernon to take control of the game. In five minutes, Marauder senior Alexi Hardie scored off a corner kick and a 40-yard long free kick to give Mt. Vernon a shock 2-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Cleo Mills, returning this year from an ACL injury in 2017, got behind the Cougar defense, drawing a foul in the box and winning a penalty kick, which she stepped up to and converted confidently.
“We tried to make some adjustments at halftime,” Williams said. “We controlled the possession early on but it seemed as if we weren’t really playing towards the goal. We got it turned around, but Greenfield made it tough.”
The Marauder defense was playing well enough that the three-goal spurt was more than enough needed to ensure the victory.
“All four of our defenders played great tonight,” Williams said. “We never really gave them any clear chances, and that’s a testament to the backs.”
The Cougars did get a goal back with four minutes remaining, as freshman Kelsey McLaughlin shook off numerous defenders to slot in a left-footed shot. It was too little too late however.
“We’re not really in peak game shape yet,” Clark said. “We like to peak in October, so we will keep working on our fitness. I’m happy though that all of the goals we conceded were on set pieces. We weren’t really getting carved up out there.”
For the Marauders, the win is a first step toward their goal of a conference championship.
“Getting this game under our belts and in the win column is big,” Williams said. “In this conference it almost always comes down to us, Greenfield, New Pal or Pendleton Heights. So it’s always big to get a head to head win against one of those.”
Mt. Vernon will next play Saturday as they travel to Argos to play in the Argos Invitational. Greenfield-Central will get a chance to pick up their first Hoosier Heritage Conference victory on Thursday, as they travel to Yorktown for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
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Mt. Vernon 3, Greenfield-Central 1
MVHS (4-0, 1-0 HHC) ;0;3;-;3
GCHS (2-1, 0-1 HHC) ;0;0;-;1
Goals: Alexie Hardie (MV, 2), Cleo Mills (MV), Kelsey McLaughlin (GC)
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