Monday, October 14, 2024

Schuh leads De Pere soccer to victory in season opener

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By Murray Gleffe

Correspondent


DE PERE – Amelia Schuh scored four goals to help lead the De Pere girls’ soccer team to a 7-0 nonconference victory April 4 over Seymour at Nowak Family Field.

“I was excited about the three goals we put in at the beginning of the game,” De Pere Head Coach Andy Steger said. “We had some opportunities the rest of the half but didn’t finish anything off. It was the first time we’ve had the entire team together, so it’s nice to get an opening victory.”

Schuh opened the scoring for the Redbirds two minutes in with a beautiful header into the back of the Thunder net.

Four minutes later, Ella Ericksen sent a nice corner into the middle of the field, and again, Schuh scored to give De Pere (1-0 overall) an early 2-0 lead.

The rare hat trick was netted by Schuh in only 14 minutes of action as she took a long pass from Ellie Patrickus and scored to give the Redbirds a 3-0 lead, an advantage they carried into the intermission.

“I owe it all to my teammates,” Schuh said. “The passes were perfectly timed to allow me to score the goals. In addition to our offensive output, our defense was strong tonight. We didn’t allow Seymour to get in deep all game long.”

Seymour (0-2) managed to gain the offensive end only five times in the first 40 minutes and had no shots on goal.

Three minutes into the second half, De Pere took a four-goal lead after Oakley Witteck blasted a shot past Seymour goalie Madison Mueller.

Schuh and Joleigh Blahnik added to the Redbirds’ total midway through the second half for a 6-0 lead.

With numerous substitutions occurring late in the second half, Alaena Zastrow notched the final score of the game after curving a shot in from 36 yards out.

“We feel like we are as deep as anybody around,” Steger said. “We played 20 kids tonight. The girls that come off the bench will be counted on to help us throughout the entire season.”

Grace Claflin picked up the shutout in goal for De Pere.

The Redbirds have a short turnaround when they travel to Kaukauna Tuesday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m.

“There are some tremendous teams in this conference (Fox River Classic Conference), starting with Bay Port, Notre Dame Academy and Sheboygan North,” Steger said.  “Throw in a young talented Pulaski team and a gritty Green Bay Southwest squad, and it makes for a tough out every time you step out onto the field.”

Amelia Schuh, andy steger, De Pere Girls Soccer, Joleigh Blahnik, Oakley Witteck, Seymour Girls Soccer, The Press-Times