By STEVE MORRISON
Niles Daily Star

The Mattawan Wildcats built a 2-0 lead at halftime into a 4-0 advantage on the strength of their forwards’ excellent ball control, as they easily outdistanced the Niles lady Vikings, 6-1, in soccer action at Niles High School on Wednesday evening.

Niles’ defense held the Wildcats down, but the offense showed few signs of impetus to match their opponents’ attack.

The Wildcats, a Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference foe, bested Niles relying largely on a hat trick by forward Alyssa Johnson and the steady passing of senior, mid-forward Lauren Riordan, the captain of the squad. Brooke Hawley and Alysha Davidson rounded out the balanced front line attack for the visitors. Riordan scored a goal of her own, to make the score 5-1 and Sara McLaughlin wrapped up the tallies for Mattawan on a break-away shot at 72:30.

The Mattawan Wildcats are laden with eight seniors and six juniors, featuring a group that has played together in elite competition in the Kalamazoo traveling team leagues for several years. The young Vikings have only nine upperclassmen on their roster.

Sophomore keeper Sarah Smith started her first varsity game for the Vikes, and made some sensational saves while replacing senior Katy Butler, who was out due to illness. Contributing 21 saves, Smith prevented the Wildcats from doing more damage. Smith was aided by the defensive effort led by Alex McIntee, Eva Nemeth and Ashley Allison for the hosts. Shannon McTigue, Lacey Stanage, Anne Tyler and Sarah Polenga chipped in with important defensive efforts, as well, for the Vikings.

The issue was simply that Mattawan dominated control of the ball, while allowing Niles almost no offensive thrusts. Mattawan keeper Jessica Toth only had to make two saves, both in the second half.

At the outset of the contest, both teams held each other in check for over ten minutes, but the Wildcats drew first blood on an “own goal” after a corner kick from Hawkins was bobbled in front of the net and deflected in off of a Niles player. Shortly thereafter, Johnson scored on a breakaway, swiping the ball past the reach of Smith. Mattawan led 2-0 at intermission.

Three minutes and 57 seconds into the second period, Johnson struck again on a header from the lead pass of Hawley. Johnson missed another break-away opportunity, moments later, with a shot just over the net.

Anne Tyler was stopped by Toth at 54:30 and Ashley Allison’s shot was smothered by Toth, two minutes later.

Johnson made it 4-0 with her final goal of the evening, knocking in a sweeping pass from Riodan, at 58:57.

Niles finally broke the barrier on the scoreboard, when Alex McIntee sent home a high bomb from 35 yards out after a pushing penalty awarded her the free-kick opportunity. McIntee shouldered the bulk of the few free -kicking opportunities afforded by the Wildcats to the Vikes. Moments later, her next free kick sailed out of bounds.

Riordan and McLaughlin scored, in a span of less than five minutes minutes apart, at 68:01 and 72:30, to wrap it up for the ‘Cats.

Niles coach Jo Schau was disappointed with her team’s performance, but was realistic in assessing the outcome.

“I like to see the girls play hard. That’s the bottom line,” she began.  “It’s gaining confidence (that we need). It’s going to come with age too. We know that we are a young team, but why wait? I tell my team, all the time, play for now. Right now is what is important.”

Schau indicated that this coming Friday’s and next Monday’s games will be key to what sets up for the remainder of the season.

Niles junior varsity was defeated by Mattawan 8-0.
Mattawan…6
Niles…1
Halftime score
Mattawan 2, Niles 0
First half
M – Niles own goal
M – Alysha Johnson
Second half
M – Johnson (Brooke Hawley assist)
M – Johnson (Lauren Riordan assist)
N – Alexis McIntee
M – Lauren Riordan
M – Sarah McLaughlin
Shots on Goal
Mattawan 26
Niles 3
Saves
Mattawan 2 (Toth)
Niles 20 (Smith)