John Bohnenkamp for Pen City Current Sports
FORT MADISON - Bailey Vaughn had a clear path to the goal and she wasn’t about to mess it up.
Vaughn is usually a defender on Fort Madison’s girls soccer team, but got a chance to play a different position closer to the front in the late stages of the Bloodhounds’ 10-0 win over Central Lee on Tuesday.
So when Vaughn got past the Hawks’ defense, with only goalkeeper Adelyn Robinson in front of her, she knew she had an excellent scoring opportunity.
“I was really excited,” Vaughn said. “I was hoping I just didn't kick it right at her, because I have a tendency to do that. I was really excited and ready to get that goal — really determined.”
Vaughn’s goal with 5:05 left in the first half was the second of her career, and the last one of the night for the Bloodhounds.
“It felt really good that she got to feel what it feels like to score,” said senior Teagan Snaadt, who scored three goals in the match. “Because when you score, it's a different type of adrenaline that hits you. And for the defense who work so hard and never gets to experience that feeling, it's really cool that she got to tonight.”
“I like that everybody got to kind of switch to positions and try something new that they've never tried before,” said senior Naomi Ramatowski. “And just happy for Bailey.”
“I was happy for her, too,” laughed senior Allison Lamb.
The match ended at halftime because of the 10-goal mercy rule, but it allowed coach Carrie Burken to try players at different spots in a game situation.
“They play some different positions sometimes in practice,” Burken said. “So we know, actually Bailey can go and score, because when we play short-field scrimmage, she will go up and score. So I think it's more of that it's good experience for those younger players to be able to rotate in. It's good for us to get some rest for some of the starters.”
It’s the third consecutive week in which the Bloodhounds have three matches on the schedule, so the chance to not have to play a full 80 minutes was something Burken appreciated.
“We can use any rest that we have,” Burken said. “And it's also nice to know, like, if a player is feeling tired, if something feels like it's a little sore, something like that, it should be like, ‘All right, just sit out. There's no need to injure something more.’”
“It was kind of a relief,’ Vaughn said.
Fort Madison (12-1-2) scored three goals in the first six minutes, and kept the pressure on the Hawks (3-10-1) throughout the half.
Seven different Bloodhounds scored goals. Besides Snaadt and Vaughn, Halle Menke had two goals and Kara Lake, Hadley Wolfe, Faith Ward and Molly Schulte each had one.
“Getting the quick start was huge for us,” Snaadt said. “You know, only having to play a half when you've had three games (each week) in the last three weeks, it was nice to get in and get out and get some rest tonight and be prepared for Thursday (when the Bloodhounds play Davenport North).”
It was a brief Senior Night for the Bloodhounds, but they enjoyed it.
“I was excited for Senior Night and glad I got to go in and help the team out,” Lamb said.
“I think we played really well, and hopefully we'll do good in our game on Thursday,” Ramatowski said.
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