Hellman's five saves helps Lady Hounds to tie with BHS

Ellie Hellman spent the first couple of weeks in her new role as Fort Madison’s goalkeeper running in place, or jogging in circles, anything to stay active as all of the action was at the other end of the field.
It’s gotten busier for Hellman this week, and the sophomore has met the challenge with the help of a stingy defense in front of her.
Hellman had five saves in Thursday’s 0-0 tie with Burlington at the Baxter Sports Complex.
Hellman has 18 saves this season, but 10 have come in the two matches this week against Fairfield and the Grayhounds.
“I love having it where it's kind of easier on my side,” Hellman said. “But it was nice to have some action, nice to get some reps in to have some real game experience.”
The first matchup of the season between the two Southeast Conference rivals who have been battling for the top spot the last few seasons solved nothing. Fort Madison (4-0-2 overall, 2-0-1 conference) had just one shot on goal and three shots overall, and Burlington (4-1-2, 1-0-1) couldn’t convert on any of its opportunities.
“The assistant referee asked me before the game,’Is this gonna be close?’” Fort Madison coach Carrie Burken said. “I was like, ‘Yep, it typically is,’ and it certainly was. So, yeah, just a rivalry that keeps on going.”
Hellman was a midfielder last season, but when Burken was looking for a goalkeeper at the start of the season, Hellman volunteered for the job.

“It has its pros and cons,” Hellman said. “Part of me really wants to be out there on the field doing what I used to do. But another part of me, I play catcher in softball, I know this experience being at the back line of the defense is going to help me.”
“She responds so well,” said Burken, who has Hellman play the field during junior varsity matches. “She's just a player who wants to learn and wants to grow. And so whether that means staying after practice to work on throwing the ball down the field or getting more shots against her, she wants those reps, and she wants that competition so that she gets better to do the best she can for the team. You can't ask more than that.”
Hellman was especially tested in the second half, when the ball was at her end of the field for most of the half. But Fort Madison’s defense was able to clear the ball or force difficult shots to give Hellman some help.
“The offense and the defense both do a great job of keeping it away from the goal,” Hellman said. “Can't commend them enough for like especially during this game. Burlington had some great runs, they really pass the ball well at times, but our defense was able to get to the sides, and then get up the field, which I thought was great.”
Senior Bailey Vaughn and sophomore Charley Huebner came up with some crucial break-ups in the final 25 minutes.
“Bailey Vaughn just brings the energy,” Burken said. “I'll tell you, she's the Energizer Bunny. She just keeps going and going and going and going and going going, and we were talking about on the sideline, we're just talking about how no one's no one wants to go against her in practice, in games, because one-on-one, if you're in a race with her, you're going to lose. And I think Burlington probably experienced that a bit today.
“(Huebner) is just so adaptable, like she doesn't care where she plays, she'll do whatever she can do to help the team. And that's what I appreciate about so many of our players, is it doesn't matter where I put them. they're just going to do their best to help their team be successful.”
“I can do everything I can in the goal, but if I don't have my defense, I'm not going to stop that many shots, just because it's going to be one on one, and those are hard,” Hellman said. “You could tell they were hustling today. They were ready to get after it.”