The goals still just aren’t coming for the W.F. West girls soccer team in open play, but the Bearcats maneuvered adeptly around that inconvenient fact Thursday, earning a win over Shelton in a penalty shootout after drawing 0-0 with the Highclimbers.
Emily Mallonee and Violet Ratkie converted their penalties for the Bearcats (4-6, 3-3 2A EvCo), who got to go second in the shootout. After two Shelton misses, the match came down the the foot of Reese Mishler, and the sophomore substitute converted to give W.F. West the win.
“She was ready for the moment, and that’s a big thing for us,” W.F. West coach Kevin Schultz said.
Before that, W.F. West had another night where the offense did just about everything except score. The Bearcats took 13 shots on the evening, four of which missed the target and nine of which found the Shelton keeper.
“It was another game where we felt like we controlled the game but it was the same story,” Schultz said. “We couldn’t finish our chances. We like where we’re at in terms of being able to possess the ball and connect some passes.”
The Bearcats played their best defense with possession, but Staysha Fluetsch was called upon to make one save on a golden Shelton chance in the first half, which turned out to be vital in a 0-0 game.
Freshman Charlee Nelson made one save in the second half, then earned the win between the sticks in the shootout, though all of Shelton’s misses missed the target.
“Charlee scared them over,” Schultz deadpanned. “She’s very menacing.”
W.F. West will be back in action Tuesday with a home match against Aberdeen. The Bearcats’ 2-0 win over the Bobcats back on Sept. 14 was one of just two league losses for Aberdeen thus far, and this last match in which W.F. West scored more than one goal.
