There was no let up from the wind or the Cassopolis girls soccer team in Monday’s Lakeland Conference match between the Rangers and Brandywine.

The Rangers booted 55 shots on goal and rolled to an 8-0 win over the Bobcats.

Cassopolis seemed very comfortable competing in gusty crosswinds, which produced chilly temperatures at the Cassopolis High School soccer field.

Brandywine coach Evan Winkler was asked after the match if the wind or Cassopolis was a tougher opponent for his squad. He didn’t hesitate when he gave his answer.

“Definitely (Cassopolis),” said Winkler, whose team fell 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the conference. “They’re really good. They’ve got some really good team speed. No. 7 (Meagan Ruff) and No. 8 (Jessica Waldschmidt) move the ball and really understand the game for them. They had a lot of good shots. In the first half, shots just weren’t falling for them.”

Waldschmidt scored three goals and had two assists for the Rangers, while Ruff added two goals and two assists.

Cassopolis coach Oli Olafsson thought his team, which improved to 5-1-1 overall and 2-0-1, had one of its best games of the year.

“They worked really hard for each other and worked as a team,” said Olafsson. “Our defense was stellar. I really thought our defense kind of set the tempo today. We didn’t allow anything. That created a lot of offensive opportunities for us.

“We played in kind of tough conditions. It was super windy, especially in the first half. It was hard to control that ball. It was a little difficult to anticipate things.”

Cassopolis owned a 31-2 edge on shots in the first half but led only 2-0 at halftime. Ruff scored from 20 yards with 26:36 left in the first half and Waldschmidt scored on a shot that deflected off the left goal post with 5:27 left in the first half.

“We’ve experienced that in games this year,” Olafsson said. “The stats show that we’re beating a team in every category but in goals. We’ve had some issues with that. I don’t know. I can’t go out there and steer the ball for them. But our kids don’t give up. They have great focus for 80 minutes.”

Behind the play of goalie Brooke Smith, Brandywine was able to stay close with Cassopolis in the first. Smith finished with 15 saves — 10 in the first half.

“Brooke did good,” Winkler said. “She hasn’t played goalie all year. It took a lot of guts for Brooke to step up and play goalie, especially against a good team like Cassopolis. I thought she did an excellent job.”

Brandywine regular goalie Alexandra Wilson was at Lake Michigan College signing up for some classes.

Cassopolis continued to pile up shots in the second half. The Rangers had 24 shots in the second half with six of those producing a goal. Janye Butts and Jessica Waldschmidt each scored twice in the second half for the Rangers. Ruff and Marissa Waldschmidt each scored once. Jessica Waldschmidt’s goal on an assist from Ruff gave Cassopolis an 8-0 lead with 4:33 left and a mercy-rule win.

Olafsson thinks that Jessica Waldschmidt has 17 or 18 goals on the season.

“Skill-wise she’s very good,” Olafsson said. “Also, half the battle is being at the right place at the right time and she’s always there at the right place at the right time. You add that with her skills and it’s a lethal combination.”

Brandywine…0

Cassopolis…8

Halftime score

Cassopolis 2, Brandywine 0

First half

C – Meagan Ruff 26:36

C – Jessica Waldschmidt 5:27

Second half

C – Marissa Waldschmidt (Ruff) 33:46

C – Janye Butts (Jessica Waldschmidt) 30:30

C – Jessica Waldschmidt 20:06

C – Ruff (Jocelyn Transou) 18:00

C – Butts (Jessica Waldschmidt) 17:11

C – Jessica Waldscmidt (Ruff) 4:33

Shots on goal

Cassopolis 55

Brandywine 2

Goalie saves

Cassopolis 0 (Molly Moroz)

Brandywine 15 (Brooke Smith)

Corner kicks

Cassopolis 11, Brandywine 1