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Posted April 20, 2008

Girls' soccer: St. Mary Central 2, Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 0
Driving home the point
Melissa Michalkiewicz scored both goals for the Zephyrs, putting them up 1-0 at 8:31 of the first half when she put a loose ball past Royals goalie Mary Parmeter.

She scored the second goal on a pretty play less than two minutes into the second half.

The Zephyrs quickly cleared the ball from their end of the field, getting the ball down the right side of the field to Rachel Brown. Brown centered the ball to the top of the box to a wide-open Michalkiewicz, who rifled a low liner that went through Parmeter's hands, between her legs and into the goal.

Making adjustments
The Zephyrs had only two shots against the Royals in the first half due in part to the Royals' defensive play and in part to the Zephyrs playing their third game in three days.

The Zephyrs had had some success at playing through balls to some slots and then running through to the goal face. The Royals stayed home on defense, forcing a change in strategy.

"We played a more horizontal game, more East-West," SMC coach Gary Kruger said. "Check it inside the defense and then let the first touch drag you to the middle, where you can see. Then let it develop. Get the first ball and, if we get the sweeper switched, then serve early."

The change in attack helped the Zephyrs get nine shots in the second half.

Plenty of company
After a quiet first half in which she had only one save, SMC goalie Shannon Laemmrich had plenty of visitors as the Royals were able to get in position in the box for several shots. Laemmrich made 11 saves in the second half.

Endurance test
The Zephyrs are in the midst of a busy two-week stretch.

With the win over the Royals, the Zephyrs completed a 4-0 week with games on Monday at Sevastopol, on Tuesday at Zephyr Fields against Wrightstown and at Kewaunee on Thursday.

Tuesday's game against the Tigers is the game that was re-scheduled from earlier in the season due to bad weather.

That game will be for first place in the Packerland Conference, as well as seeding when the WIAA tournament gets under way.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS ASSUMPTION 0 0 – 0

ST. MARY CENTRAL 1 1 – 2

Goals: Melissa Michalkiewicz SMC 8:31; Michalkiewicz SMC 41:48. Shots: WRA 17, SMC 11. Saves: Shannon Laemmrich SMC 13, Mary Parmeter WRA 4.
Jim Oskola: 920-993-1000, ext. 230 or joskola@postcrescent.com.

St. Mary Central's Erin McGuirk (right) fights for the ball with Ali Chapman of Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the Town of Menasha on Saturday. Post-Crescent photo by M.P. King