By KELLY TERPSTRA, Courier sports writer
May 13, 2008 12:23 am
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OTTUMWA — There’s still plenty left on the table for the Ottumwa girls soccer squad in 2008.
A third-place finish in the CIML Metro, the school record in wins and the Bulldogs’ first postseason victory ever can all be accomplished for head coach Erin Ebling’s squad with a few weeks left in the season.
Ebling’s Bulldogs squared off against 15th-ranked Des Moines Hoover on Monday night at the Walsh Soccer Complex in Ottumwa. The Huskies, now 8-2 overall and 4-0 in league play, took it to the Bulldogs with a 5-0 victory.
Ebling said goodbye to 15 seniors who played their final home match on a chilly spring evening as it was Senior Night for OHS.
“To have a squad with 15 seniors shows how much our program has grown,” said Ebling, in her fifth season of guiding OHS. “They’ll be missed and hard to replace. The younger girls have learned a lot from them.”
Ebling — who has been head coach since day one in 2004 when prep soccer was introduced to Ottumwa High School — is within two victories of tying the school record for wins in a season. Ottumwa is currently 4-6 overall and 2-2 in league play. The Bulldog team of 2005 holds the mark for most wins in a season with a 6-9 record.
Two of those 15 seniors — Brittany Rouze and Natiely Montoya — were on that ‘05 team and played as eighth-graders during the program’s very first season.
Each had this to say about Ebling — the only OHS head soccer coach they’ve ever known.
“I’ve learned so much from Erin and that’s how I’m going on with my future in soccer,” said Rouze, who will play soccer at William Penn University.
Montoya led Ottumwa in shots on goal with two and hopes to play for Iowa State University in Ames.
“We try hard. I’m really going to miss this team. I learned a lot from coach, too,” said Montoya.
Hoover will play Roosevelt on Thursday for the Metro crown.
The Huskies’ Dana Hall recorded a hat trick as she scored goals at the 4th, 33rd and 42nd minutes of the contest. Hoover’s Jordyn Kracht netted head coach Ginger Parson’s other goals.
Ottumwa finishes the conference season at Des Moines Lincoln on Thursday. The Bulldogs’ final regular season match is at Keokuk on Monday. Ottumwa plays at Indianola in the first round of Class 2A Region 3 postseason play on May 28. Indianola defeated Ottumwa 2-1 this season at Walsh.
Ebling had this to say after the tough shutout loss.
“Our girls didn’t let up, they just kept fighting, which is something they’ve done all season,” said Ebling. “That’s something our program has gotten better at.”
Des Moines Hoover 5, Ottumwa 0
DMH 3 2 — 5
OTT 0 0 — 0
Scoring Summary
Des Moines Hoover — Dana Hall 4:47
Des Moines Hoover — Jordyn Kracht 14:32
Des Moines Hoover — Hall 33:56
Des Moines Hoover — Kracht 40:19
Des Moines Hoover — Hall 42:32
Des Moines Hoover: Total Shots — 40. Total Saves — 4. Total Fouls — 11.
Ottumwa: Total Shots — 5 (Natiely Montoya 2, Whitney MacQueen, Jacqueline Vonderhaar, Kelsey McGuire). Total Saves — 25 (Maleah Morett 25). Total Fouls — 3.
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