Shorthanded RLO finds a way at Oostburg

The Random Lake/Ozaukee co-op girls’ soccer team last week returned to the hostile scene where the team ended Oostburg’s  season in a shootout after a scoreless tie in a sectional final, and RLO was shorthanded to boot.

But the Cedar Valley girls, as the team calls itself because Cedar Valley Cheese sits between the two schools, stepped up their game and came away with a 2-1 victory.

“I reminded the girls that they ended Oostburg’s season last year in the sectional final to go to state, so Oostburg was gonna be ready to play and try to get their revenge,” coach Matt Wilson said. “The RLO girls came ready to play and did a nice job of putting pressure on Oostburg’s side of the field all night.”

RLO scored in the 25th minute for the first half’s only goal. Mya Schroeder won a one-on-one battle to the right of the goal, then “she placed a beautiful pass to the opposite side to an oncoming Faith Wilson, who placed it into the left corner of the net,” coach Wilson said.

In the second half, RLO went up 2-0 in the 58th minute. Mia Evraets got the assist on a corner kick that Schroeder finished off.

“Mia placed it to the back side of the goal about 10 yards out. Mya was able to track it down and headed it past the keeper, which is her second header for a goal this season,” Wilson said.

Oostburg’s Taylor Teunissen snuck a ball in the lower corner past backup keeper Emily O’Keefe in the 73rd minute, and RLO held on from there.

O’Keefe made six saves in her first varsity start.

“She did a nice job despite not seeing a whole lot of close-up pressure,” Wilson said. “The back line kept her fairly clean all night by forcing shots from about 20 to 25 yards out or just not letting the shot be taken.”

RLO was without keeper Bianca Marini, who is nursing a hamstring injury, and all-conference defender Chloe Dybul, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

The Cedar Valley girls rode the momentum from that big win into last Thursday’s home opener against winless Mayville.

RLO won, 12-0, in a game stopped at 60 minutes due to the eight-goal mercy rule.

Schroeder had four goals and Lexi Gruman and Addison Kurlinski each had two.

Faith Wilson, Alexis Wilson, Marissa Ter Maat and Savannah Quade each scored once.

Faith Wilson had two assists. Schroeder, Evraets and Hailey Wiebelhaus each had an assist.

RLO had 36 shots on goal. O’Keefe didn’t need to make a save.

“This was a game for us to work on some things and also get our subs some quality minutes. I was really happy with how the girls stayed patient moving the ball down the field and taking what was there,” coach Wilson said. “It was really nice to see Addison Kurlinski and Savannah Quade put some goals in the net. They do so much for us defensively, so their opportunities are limited on the offensive side of the ball.”

RLO, 4-2, was to host Kohler on Tuesday, April 28. The team plays at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah on Thursday, April 30, and hosts St. Mary Catholic on Thursday, May 7.