Shutouts pile up

• Emily Blasius

Wildcat senior Emily Blasius kicks the ball past a Hudson defender for the first goal of the game in the Cats’ 2-0 win over the Raiders Thursday at Wildcat Field. The Cats won both of their Big Rivers Conference games and went 3-0 at a tournament in Milwaukee to improve to 13-0-1 on the season. Bob Burrows photo

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So far this season, the Wildcat girls’ soccer team has allowed opponents to score a total of one goal in 14 games.

The Cats ran their shutout streak to 10 straight last week with a pair of Big Rivers Conference victories followed by three nonconference wins at the Milwaukee Lutheran Tournament over the weekend.

River Falls defeated Chippewa Falls 1-0 in overtime last Tuesday and blanked Hudson, 2-0, on Thursday to improve to 8-0-1 in BRC play. Saturday it outscored its opponents 19-0 in three wins at Milwaukee to up its overall record to 13-0-1.

The only goal the Cats have allowed this season came in a 1-1 tie against Eau Claire Memorial back on April 21. The two teams met again Tuesday in Eau Claire with first place on the line in the BRC. Check the Journal online at www.riverfallsjournal.com for results.

Last Tuesday at Chippewa Falls, Bailey LaPoint sent home a corner kick from Jenna Kizlik four minutes into overtime to give the Cats a 1-0 victory over the Cardinals. Wildcat goalkeeper Paige Meyer made 10 saves as the Cardinals outshot the Cats, 10-7.

Thursday at home against Hudson, the Wildcats scored both of their goals in a drizzly second half in a 2-0 victory over the Raiders.

Emily Blasius pounced on a ball that was misplayed by the Raider goalkeeper to sore the first goal of the game two minutes into the second half, before Sarah Vitale knocked home a rebound of her own shot with under a minute remaining to make the final 2-0. Meyer finished with seven saves.

Friday the Cats opened the Milwaukee Lutheran Tournament with a 1-0 victory over the host team before defeating Lomira, 6-0, and West Allis Central, 12-0, on Saturday.

Taylor Kizlik accounted for the lone goal of Friday’s game, assisted by younger sister Jenna, while Meyer stopped all five shots she faced.

Saturday against Lomira, Vitale scored two goals and Taylor Kizlik, Jenna Kizlik, Sandra Meyer and Sierra Becker had one apiece in a 6-0 Wildcat victory.

Wildcat goalkeeper Paige Meyer now had 13 shutouts on the season and a miniscule 0.08 goals against average. She has stopped 46 of the 47 shots she has faced in 14 games.

After Tuesday’s showdown at Eau Claire Memorial (6-0-1, 10-0-6) the Cats will host Menomonie (0-6-0, 2-9-0) Thursday in the team’s Kickin’ Cancer fundraiser beginning at 5 p.m. at Wildcat Field. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Cancer Society through the local Relay for Life.

Highlights of the night will include special remembrance ribbons of family, friends and others who have been lost to cancer; a halftime recognition of cancer survivors; special pink jerseys and socks worn by the Wildcat players; a raffle of special pink soccer balls signed by the players; and the sale of special “Kickin’ Cancer” bandanas and bracelets.

A free-will donation box will also be positioned at the entrance to the field.

Tags: sports, prep, wildcats, soccer