Hat tricks, defense fuel Newton girls’ conference win

NEWTON — Amber Karsten opened and closed the scoring for Newton’s Cardinal girls’ soccer team in a dominating 10-0 home victory over Knoxville’s Panthers Tuesday. Karsten’s third goal of the night came quickly after halftime, halting the contest by the 10-goal victory margin rule.

The 12th-ranked Cardinals kept the Panthers winless in opening Little Hawkeye Conference play at H.A. Lynn Stadium in convincing style. Karsten took a pass from Ryanne Rausch and found the net in the second minute of play.

That goal was all the Cardinals really needed. Newton’s stingy defense, which has only given up one goal in six games, kept the Panthers from any serious attacking challenges. Newton led 9-0 at halftime.

“Tonight was the best passing I have seen these girls do all year,” said Cathy Reiter, Cardinal head coach. “They played to feet, swithced fields, and finished their opportunities.”

Newton shared the ball well with five players scoring goals and six players credited with assists. The Cardinals, who improved to 6-0, had 15 shots on goal in the rule-shortened contest.

Anna Barr provided three assists for goals by the Cardinals. Her crossing pass in front of the net allowed Rausch to use her chest to send the ball past the Panthers into the net  in the 10th minute of action. Rausch hung around the net again to kick one in on a pass from Barr.

Panther goalkeeper Irie Roberts, who had been fending off Cardinal shots from the start of the game, was injured in traffic in front of the gaol on Rausch’s second score with 19:09 left in the first half.

The Cardinals continued to control the ball. The ball rarely found its way over midfield. Newton goalkeeper Emily Forsyth spent most of her time cheering on her teammates and relying instructions. She only touched the ball once in the first half and had one save for the contest.

“Our center midfielders, Victoria Jordan and Hanna Rhoads, played especially well in creating opportunities for us and connecting passes,” Reiter said. “Kaytlin (Ahn) and Amber did a great job of finishing at the goal.”

Karsten made it 4-0 on a pass from Taylor Moon. Kaytlin Ahn came in off the bench to have a hat trick — three goals — along with Karsten. Ahn scored on an assist from Barr at the 17:28 mark then recorded an assist on a goal by Bailey Beaderstadt five minutes later.

In a span of 30 seconds in the 31st minute of play, Ahn scored twice off passes from Moon and Paige Reed. A Reed pass found Moon near the goal with 2:30 remaining in the first half and Moon scored.

“Our defense again played a great game. It was great to get another shutout,” Reiter said. The Cardinals have outscored their opponents, 31-1, in their six games.

Karsten’s game-ending goal came on an assist by Taylor Shipley early in the second half. The Cardinals had 18 players get playing time in the game, as Reiter began substituting midway through the first half.

Moon and Reed each had two assists. Rausch, Ahn and Shipley each were credited with one assist.

Newton, which is 1-0 in conference play, is back in action Thursday in a non-conference contest at Marshalltown.