May 09, 2024

Newton girls drop soccer opener to Marshalltown

Bobcats score twice in each half, down host Cardinals

By Troy Hyde
Cailyn Doland

Newton senior Cailyn Doland, right, passes the ball to a teammate in front of Marshalltown's Kenya Gomez Reyes during the Cardinals' season opener against the Bobcats on Monday. Newton lost 4-0 at H.A. Lynn Stadium. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The tones in Susan Altemeier’s voice on Monday were telling. The Newton girls head soccer coach was frustrated with the end result of the team’s season opener against Marshalltown.

The Bobcats scored two goals in each half and limited Newton to five shots on goal for the match during a 4-0 non-conference road victory.

“I am pretty frustrated,” Altemeier said. “The skill set isn’t where it needs to be. We need to stay connected in our formation, we need to play our positions more effectively and we need to consistently run out there. We are running then we stop. Marshalltown ran and ran and ran.”

Abby Chance

Newton junior Abby Chance sends the ball down field during the Cardinals' match with Marshalltown on Monday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

The Bobcats out-shot Newton 13-3 in the first half and had a 7-1 advantage in shots on goal and a 3-1 surplus in corner kicks.

Sara Huffman scored on a penalty kick in the 10th minute to begin the scoring. Yuri Ramirez made it 2-0 in the 24th minute.

The Bobcats (1-0) had an 11-6 advantage in shots in the second half and edged the Cardinals in shots on goal, 5-4. Marshalltown also took all three corner kicks.

Newton (0-1) fell behind 3-0 after McKenna Coleman scored for the Bobcats in the 61st minute. Carroll Gomez-Reyes capped the scoring with a goal seven minutes later.

“When people look at Marshalltown, they tend to look at a lower level team, but this team improved tremendously from last year,” Altemeier said. “We had some good give and gos and good connections, but we need to work on passing.

“As much as we work on conditioning, we still have a ways to go there, too.”

Payton Carkhuff

Newton freshman Payton Carkhuff, left, battles for possession in the offensive zone during the Cardinals' 4-0 loss to Marshalltown at H.A. Lynn Stadium on Monday. (Troy Hyde/Newton News)

Altemeier would like to work on some things in practice, but there just hasn’t been time lately. The Cardinals played in a scrimmage on Friday, opened the season with Marshalltown on Monday and played Williamsburg on Tuesday.

“We are going to work on patterns of play but just haven’t had time yet,” Altemeier said. “It might be a positive playing tomorrow to redeem themselves. But we need to communicate better. We have so much to work on and will continue to work on things in practice.”

Newton is 13-2 against Marshalltown since 2011, but the Bobcats have won two straight in the series.

Natalee Freese had 12 saves in her 80 minutes in goal for Newton.