Ravens Soccer Recap

Ravens Soccer Recap

Sophomore Micah Gerber

Hillcrest Ravens Soccer vs Highland  4.24.2023
Hillcrest 3, Highland 0

The Ravens traveled to Highland, picking up a 3-0 win against a scrappy Highland team. The Ravens created pressure early but had trouble finding good shots. About halfway through the first half Grant Bender was pushed up to forward while his brother Mason stepped back into the central defenders role. The move paid off when Micah Gerber intercepted a pass, then crossed the ball to Grant who powered the ball into the goal for the 1-0 halftime lead. 

The defensive unit of Mason Bender, Mason Helmuth, Bryce Bailey and Isaac Lybeck continued to limit Highlands chances. Eleven minutes into the second half, Helmuth sent a long ball forward to Phoenix Anderson who beat the goalie to the ball and put it into the net. The midfield of Jesse Blossom, Lincoln Miller, Isaac Birky and Owen Scott controlled much of the play. With 11 minutes remaining, Charlie McAndrew intercepted a pass and pushed the ball forward. Owen Scott gathered the ball, beat two defenders then stuck the ball in corner of the goal. 

In goal Kyle Neuschwander did a good job of cutting off balls before they could turn into shots. In the waning moments of the game Kyle made an excellent save to preserve the shutout. The Ravens move to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in conference. 

The Ravens return to action next week hosting league leading Mediapolis.

Hillcrest Ravens soccer  4.21.2023
Hillcrest 1, Danville 2
Playing for the second consecutive night the young Hillcrest Ravens hosted Danville on a blustery night losing 2-1. Hillcrest struck, quickly scoring 30 seconds after the whistle blew, as Rowan Miller and Owen Scott worked the ball forward, then quickly pressured the Danville defender after losing the ball. Scott put a shot on goal which deflected to Micah Gerber who struck the ball into the net for the quick 1-0 lead. 

From here the game turned into a defensive struggle as both teams struggled to create offensive opportunities. The defensive unit did a good job of limiting Danville, which had the wind behind them the first half. Grant Bender, Mason Bender, Bryce Bailey, Mason Helmuth and Isaac Lybeck found ways to deflect or clear balls, while goalie Kyle Neuschwander made several key saves to take the 1-0 lead into halftime. 

The defense held up in the second half until with about 12 minutes left in the match Danville pushed the ball into their box. As defenders tried to clear the ball it seemed to hit off either Hillcrest or Danville players, keeping the ball in dangerous spots. Finally a shot emerged from the pile eluding the diving goalie. As both teams pressed to find the winning goal gaps opened and Danville was able to take advantage, hitting a shot from just beyond the 18 for the winning goal.

Hillcrest responded, creating several opportunities in the last minutes of the game but it was not to be. Hillcrest drops to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

Below articles submitted by Zach Ulin/KCII
HILLCREST HANDS HUSKIES LOSS
The Hillcrest Academy Raven boys soccer team got back on the winning track Monday in Riverside with a 3-0 shut out of the home Highland Huskies. The Ravens found the back of the net once in the first half and beat the Highland defense twice after break for insurance. 

Read more HERE!

CURTISS GOLDEN FOR HAWKS AND TRIMPE TERRIFIC IN MID-PRAIRIE SWEEP OF TIPTON
A pair of tightly contested River Valley Conference soccer matches went Mid-Prairie’s way in Wellman Monday night when the Golden Hawk boys and girls took down Tipton by matching 2-1 scores. The girls contest was scoreless to break. Amara Jones got the Hawks on the board in the 58th minute with her sixth goal of the year. Tipton would find the equalizer in the final 10 minutes of regulation, sending the game to extra tme. Neither team could find the winner in the first 10 minutes. In the second extra stanza, Mid-Prairie’s Zoey Curtiss sent the fans home happy in the 97th minute with the walk-off goal, her fourth of the season, on a Paityn Jennings assist. Curtiss spoke with KCII Sports after the match about the goal and win. Curtiss broke things down like this, “We just kept pushing and getting chances. I just run on adrenaline and go for every ball. PJ (Paityn Jennings), had a really good pass to me and then I shot it. It was a really good win. We fought hard.”

Read more HERE!