Ashwaubenon – The Ashwaubenon Jaguars (1-1-1) faced off against the Luxemburg-Casco Spartans (1-2) in an early April soccer matchup. With both teams fired up, the match was set to be an exciting one.
The Jaguars entered the match coming off a hard-fought draw against Oshkosh North, determined to secure their first win of the season. Meanwhile, the Spartans were looking to rebound from a tough 2-1 loss at the hands of the Red Devils of Green Bay East and finally find their stride.
Despite the cold weather, the Jaguars didn't miss a beat. Junior Sylvia Dawson started the run with an 8:42 goal, skillfully set up by forwards Jayla Brunhoefer and Abigail Homa. Dawson has consistently been a key offensive player this season and last, showcasing her precision and ability to consistently find scoring opportunities.
The early onslaught didn't end there—just four minutes later, a perfectly placed shot from sophomore Addyson Coady found the back of the net after a corner kick from Brunhoefer at the 11:46 mark. “We came into the game knowing we were gonna power through it, and I think we worked well as a team,” said Coady, reflecting on the cohesive effort that fueled her scoring.
The Jaguars’ offense kept the pressure on the Spartans, taking shot after shot on goal until finally a third corner kick from Brunhoefer connected with Coady’s foot for her second goal of the match. “We did one day, and we spent a lot of time on it (corner kicks),” said Jaguars head coach Dave Stroud, highlighting the team’s dedication to refining their tactics. “So far this season, we have four goals off of corners, so it’s been working really well for us.”
With a dominant first forty minutes, the Jaguars went into halftime up 3-0. After halftime, both teams seemed different—the ball was on the Jaguars’ half much more than in the first half. After multiple diving saves by freshman goalkeeper Sawyer Overly, a Spartan shot finally slipped through her gloves at the 58:07 mark, making the score 3-1 with the Jaguars still ahead.
Following strong efforts by both offenses, the score remained unchanged until the final whistle, giving the Jaguars their first win of the season. “We are a very young team building together, but I believe we will be great towards the end of the season,” said Coady, emphasizing the team’s potential. Stroud shared a similar optimism: “We would like to win a playoff game,” he said. “In the past we had to travel a long distance to get beat, so I want to do well enough to possibly get a home game and win a few in the playoffs.”
With their first win under their belt, the Jaguars’ march to the playoffs continues on Saturday, April 12, with a matchup against the Appleton North Lightning at 12 p.m. at Appleton North High School.
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