April 19, 2024

Tenth-ranked Cardinals turn back Grinnell Tigers

By Jocelyn Sheets

Newton High senior forward Ryanne Rausch (2) was shadowed by Grinnell junior Sienna Durr, left, throughout Tuesday’s Little Hawkeye Conference game at H.A. Lynn Stadium. Rausch got loose twice to score in the second half as Newton won 2-1. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Freshman Allie Norvell dribbled the ball to the left side of the goal and made the perfect pass to the middle to her Newton High teammate senior Ryanne Rausch. Rausch shook off her shadow — Grinnell junior defender Sienna Durr — and planted the ball into the net.

The first goal of Tuesday’s Little Hawkeye Conference soccer game between the Class 2A 10th-ranked Cardinals and visiting Grinnell came with 21 minutes, 45 second left in the contest. Newton held off the Tigers for a 2-1 victory.

The teams played a scoreless first half.

Rausch got loose from Durr again at the 10:36 mark in the middle of the field in front of the goal. It was junior Anna Forsyth delivering the crossing pass into Rausch. Rausch kicked the ball past the Tigers’ goalkeeper Kate Cooper again.

The Tigers averted a shutout when junior Miya McAntire scored on a penalty kick with 3:43 remaining in the game. Newton senior defender Courtney Jacobsen ended the Tigers’ final attack when she took possession of the ball with 2:05 left.

“The girls really tried to work on their intentional shooting tonight, and getting the ball off their foot quickly,” Newton head coach Abby Lamont said. “We were definitely the better skilled and quicker team tonight.

“We just need to fine tune a few points and our entire game plan should be in place as we head into some tougher games.”

Rausch, who is Newton’s leading scorer and led Class 2A in scoring the past two seasons, was shadowed all over the field by Durr. Durr is 6-feet tall to Rausch’s 5-feet-6 inches, so Durr was able to win several of the balls in the air meant for Rausch.

Durr was moved to forward once Newton took a 2-0 lead, but wasn’t able to get any shots on goal. The Tigers did have several runs in each half, but the Cardinals held fast.

Senior goalkeeper Ashlee Freese had three saves in the game. Newton has given up two goals in its six games.

Newton (6-0) is 2-0 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. The Cardinals play a 7 p.m. conference game Tuesday at Oskaloosa.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com