FM girls earn shut out over Keokuk

BY JOHN BOHNENKAMP
PCC SPORTS

FORT MADISON - Fort Madison’s 4-0 shutout of Keokuk in Thursday’s girls soccer match at the Baxter Soccer Complex was a win, but coach Carrie Burken thought it could have been better.
The Bloodhounds (3-1 overall, 3-0 Southeast Conference) won their third consecutive match, but they were too quiet at times for Burken’s taste.
“Definitely not a good game for us,” Burken said. “Our last game against Washington on Monday (a 2-1 win), we were playing super well, really good possession, good passing. This was not that level of intensity.
Fort Madison stayed at the top of the conference with the win over the Chiefs (2-4, 0-3).
“I think sometimes when you’re expecting to beat a team, you don’t come with the same focus as (playing) a team that’s at the top of the conference, that you know is going to be a tough team,” Burken said. “That was not what I would call our best game, for sure.”
Taegan Denning got Fort Madison’s first goal two minutes into the match, then Teagan Snaadt scored 16 minutes later. A third goal from Natalie Randolph with 12:45 to go in the half put the Bloodhounds in command.
That allowed Fort Madison’s defense to clamp down on the Chiefs in the second half.
Fort Madison has allowed just two goals in its last three matches, and just five goals in four matches.
That, Burken said, is a credit to captains Camille Kruse and Mary Kate Bendlage.
“Our defense works really well together,” Burken said. “Camille and MK have played in the middle this year and last year. They’re friends outside of soccer, they have a really good relationship. And they work really well together. They’re captains, and MK is really good at communicating, so that helps our defense.”
Fort Madison had several chances to add to the lead in the second half, but could only get one goal, a shot from Alana Simpson off a Snaadt assist with 23:53 to play.
The Bloodhounds play at Burlington on Monday in a match between two undefeated teams in conference play.
“Hopefully we’ll come back on Monday and play better,” Burken said. “I think we did some things well. So it’s not a total negative. You always take a win. It’s not like we gave up a ton of chances on goal. 
“Overall, it’s not bad. I just know we can do better. “