THREE GAME SHUTOUT!
Oldenburg Academy Girls soccer team wins class A sectionals for the first time in school
history!
Twisters got the win in grand style as well. Through a random draw OA got a poor draw for this years
tourney having to play three games in a week to advance. Every team understands that this may be
the last game of season so they give it their all for 80 minutes each game making the climb steep. Our
team played Knightstown on Tuesday with an 8-0 victory followed by 5-0 win over Triton Central on
Thursday leading us to the final game on Saturday with opposite bracket winner home team
Centerville. The OA team warms up as the sun was setting the lights come on and the temperature
starts to drop. Referees call the captains Seniors Erica Geers, Maria Lewis, Juniors Margaret Glaser
and Haleigh Reed. The coin flip decides field direction of play and the kick off team. Nobody cares
because the winds are light and the sun is below the horizon so glare will not be a factor. It’s a perfect
night again for Futbol. Nerves are starting to kick in now as the starters are told to take the field for
team introductions and in a sign of solidarity we see that each team member is wearing a single
braided pony tail. As they turn to face the flag for the national anthem this team bonds. All the years of
play, practices, sweat, painful injuries, parents support, coaches need to be celebrated by earning a
sectional win tonight. No second chances… its game time. The whistle blows the clock starts and the
Twister Machine starts to wind up quickly and confidently. Centerville got to watch OA all week so it
was no surprise that they wanted to interrupt our long game by double/triple teaming #6. What they do
not realize is that #6 Haleigh Reed doesn’t start the play, she just finishes it. It all starts in the middle
with Maria Lewis, Ava Geers, Elizabeth Schulte, Cori (Hammer) Hammoor, Stella Hillenbrand, Clare
Weidner and Andrea Rink or it goes to wings Jill Eckstein, Lexi Brown, Lizzie Kelnhofer or Bella
Sterchi before its makes it up top. Yes we play everybody! We have 18 athletes and they will win or
lose this game as a team. In the 12th minute Ava Geers delivers a controlled pass to the 25 for
Haleigh Reed who accelerated away from the Centerville defense for her first of many challenges with
the last girl between her and the net. Unleashed Reed proceeded to take passes from Lizzie
Kelnhofer, Anya Smith and Elizabeth Schulte and turn them into a series of challenging and
mesmerizing finishes. Next up is Lexi Brown driving the outside lane and slipping an unstoppable ball
just under the top post. Freshman Sydney Hogg finished off the night like a storm with two late game
goals 4 minutes apart from 2 assists by Maria Lewis. Sydney's high school career got off to a great
start this year. The OA boys soccer team was in the stands rewarding the girls with a series of cheers
that were perfectly timed with every good touch. Respect. Not to be outdone by the offense the
Twister defense of Anya Smith, Erica Geers, Margaret Glaser and Madie Hogg repelled press after
press, getting knocked down, pushed around and barely getting a breath. The coordination and
stamina made the Centerville offense uncomfortable as they could not get enough time on their half of
the field to mount a solid attack on goal. Outstanding goalkeeper Regan Weberding almost got the
night off with all that great defense but stepped up when it was time to do her job and earned her 3rd
shutout of the state tournament series. 3 for 3. No goals. Nada. The Oldenburg Academy Girls
Soccer Team wins 7-0 and gets it’s first ever Sectional Title. We will celebrate tonight and go back to
practice for our game against #1 Heritage Christian next Saturday. We are ready.
Haleigh Reed finishes the sectional tournament with 12 goals and is ranked #1 in Indiana class A with
40 goals.
Maria Lewis is currently 5th in Assists with 18 in class A.
Regan Weberding at 7th in Goals Average Against at 1.05 in class A.
Jillian Eckstein 17th in assists in class A.