Rashids combine for three goals as Lady Crusaders roll Columbus Junction

BY PCC STAFF

WEST POINT - Holy Trinity Catholic's Maya and Elle Rashid combined for three goals Tuesday night at home as the Lady Crusaders rolled to a 5-0 shut out win over Columbus Junction in girls high school soccer action.

Elyse Pothitakis got the ball in the net first for HTC with a goal from left of center at the 18-minute mark. With Holy Trinity keeping the ball on their side of the field for about 70% of the game, senior Ali Randolph was able to find a shot on goal about four minutes later. Randolph's shot was blocked, but Elle Rashid was following again down the left side of the net area and was able to punch it in off the block to give HTC a 2-0 lead.

That lead would hold up until halftime, but the Crusaders took off in the second half much the same as they did in the first, dominating field position throughout the half ,allowing only a smattering of Columbus Junction treks toward HTC goalie Avery Malinski. Malinski only needed two saves on the night to preserve the shutout.

With just under seven minutes gone in the second half, Randolph again took a shot and this one hit the crossbar above the net and dropped at the feet of Elle Rashid who, again, capitalized on following the play and found the net.

Randolph, who had three assists on the night, then found Maya Rashid who scored with a left-footed strike to put the Crusaders up comfortably 4-0. Taylor Boeding then got in on the scoring action off an assist from Pothitakis at the 14-minute mark.

Maya Rashid finished the game with one goal and three shots on goal. Boeding finished with one goal and two shots on goal. Randolph finished with three assists and four shots on goal. Elyse Pothitakis had her one goal to go with one assist and one shot on goal.

The Crusaders move to 4-1 on the season and participate in the Tournament of Champions at the Burlington Rec Plex Friday through Sunday.

Elle Rashid reacts after scoring off Ali Randolph's shot on goal that was blocked back into play where Rashid cleaned up to put HTC up 2-0 in the first half. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC.

The Crusaders' Ali Randolph sets up for a shot on goal in first-half action Tuesday at South Park in West Point. The Crusaders downed Columbus Junction 5-0 to move to 4-1 on the season. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC.