El Dorado cruises to victory over Hamburg

HAMBURG – El Dorado's soccer girls shut out Hamburg 8-0 on Friday to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Lady Wildcats will host DeQueen Saturday at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Marleigh Bonsall, Julia Jackson and Caroline Meadows scored two goals each while Madi Bonsall added one. The Lady Cats' other goal was an own-goal.

“They started off a little shaky. I didn't like how they started,” said El Dorado coach Neville Matthews. “I guess once they realized they could score goals, that was their main focus, and they went away from the game plan. We made some adjustments at the half and they went back to the game plan. They started to play a whole lot better

in the second half.”

El Dorado led 3-0 at the intermission. The Lady Wildcats peppered Hamburg's goal with 12 shots in the first half and 10 in the second half.

“I had some good play from my bench. Brintley Parker, she cracked back on defense and stopped the one goal that the team probably could've scored in the last two minutes,” said Matthews.

“They got a breakaway from the defense and beat the keeper. Brintley Parker went back, and she shut her down.

“Midfield played pretty decent today and the defense. But I felt we kind of played down to the competition a little bit.”

El Dorado's keepers, Hannah Turbeville and Catelynn Connor, had one save apiece.

“It's a work in progress. We're still trying to move some pieces around,” said Matthews. “I'm glad we're not peaking this early. I just want them to realize, they dominate, and they forget the game plan and start getting goal anxious.

“I have to take them away from that – play your game and the goals are going to come. They went back to that and the floodgates opened back up.”

The Lady Wildcats have outscored their two opponents 16-0. Matthews was asked if he thinks DeQueen will provide stiffer competition. He chuckled and answered, “Yes, I do.”