OTTUMWA — Mia Garza-Trejo and Ilana Vascones are leaving their mark on the history of Ottumwa's women's soccer program together.
Last year, the teammates scored 27 goals as part of Ottumwa's 7-7 season, making them the leading scoring duo in a single season. Garza-Trejo and Vascones have already surpassed that record this year, totaling 36 goals so far this season.
Five of those goals came Friday night, giving the Bulldogs another run in what was already the winningest season in program history. Vascones scored a hat trick and Garza-Trejo found the back of the net for two more goals in a 6-0 Iowa Alliance Conference South game between Ottumwa and Des Moines East at Schaefer Stadium. .
“When you have someone like Mia on your team, it makes things a lot easier,” Vascones said. “She creates a lot of opportunities and I just go for them. From the beginning of last year to this year, our communication has gotten better. We both know what we can do together. I know.”
“I always know I can count on Ilana no matter what,” Garza-Trejo added. “If I send the ball to the net, Ilana will be there to finish it.”
That was the case in the first half Friday, when Ottumwa was forced to score just two goals in the entire first half, less than 24 hours after a thunderstorm delayed the game and a blowout 10-0 home win over Centerville. could not. One night, they scored two goals less than 17 minutes after the opening kickoff before weather delays. Garza-Trejo scored the first goal of the night, and then Vascones scored off a Bulldog attack to give Ottumwa a 2-0 lead at halftime.
“There were some moments where we could have communicated a little more, but I think everyone did their best,” Vascones said.
It didn't take long for the Bulldogs to open up a two-point lead in the second half. For the third time this season, Ottumwa scored a goal within 30 seconds of the first half, with Vascones running in just after the opening kickoff and firing his second goal of the game into the net, making it the Bulldogs' second-quickest goal of the season. The score with 23 seconds left in the first half gave OHS a 3-0 lead.
“At the beginning of the season, we had our teams hanging out and playing games,” Ottumwa women's soccer head coach Matthew Erlandson said. “I think we finally put an end to this because a few weeks ago we were leading Des Moines Hoover 2-1 and we gave up a goal in the second half. We don't give other teams that kind of momentum. We talked about trying to do this. We have to do that.'' Step on the gas and keep going.'' ”
Hoover's goal early in the second half against the Bulldogs was the only goal he scored in the Huskies' 3-1 win on April 18, and Ottumwa is 4-4 on the season with a .500 batting average. I returned to It was also the last goal scored by an Ottumwa opponent as the Bulldogs scored all 40 goals in five games and are looking for their fifth straight shutout victory.
“Our defense was really solid,” Erlandson said. “Our goaltenders have been good too, whether it's Bryce Schmidt or Caitlin Shoemaker. They both really play at the net. It also helps that we've been relentless on offense. It is difficult for the opposing team to score if the ball is always 50-60 yards away from the goal.
East forced Shoemaker to make three saves in the game, while Schmidt had to stop one more in Ottumwa's 10-0 wins over Fairfield and Centerville earlier in the week, but the Bulldogs He still created a decisive advantage in scoring chances, taking 23 shots.Play against the Scarlets who will challenge three different goalkeepers throughout the match
Vascones and Garza-Trejo led the attack, each scoring six points. Vascones completed his hat trick, scoring his 14th goal of the year off a rebound following Garza-Trejo's first shot in the 49th minute, giving Ottumwa a 4-0 lead.
Jadyn Hallgren added her third goal of the season in the 58th minute when she converted a penalty after being tackled by East backup goalie Reina Velasco. Garza-Trejo then broke free with his second goal of the night and team-leading 22nd of the season in the 75th minute, capping a six-point night that included two goals and two assists for Vascones.
“It's really great to be able to share this success with all my teammates,” Garza Trejo said. “Ilana and I have only been playing together for a few years, so it's pretty special to form such chemistry right away.”
Ottumwa (9-4, 3-1 Iowa Alliance) hosts Marshalltown on Tuesday in what could be the Bulldogs' last home game of the season, along with Cedar Rapids-Jefferson, Mount Pleasant and Des Moines. Lincoln, who is scheduled to travel to the United States, left after Tuesday's game and finished the game. regular season. The Bulldogs are looking to set a new standard for success within the program as Ottumwa seeks a win to reach 10 wins in a season for the first time and seal the first overall winning season in Bulldog women's soccer history.
“The more we win, the more confident we get,” Garza Trejo said. “We go into each game expecting to come out with a win.”