Season opener win on the road at Bishop Lynch
The Lady Vikings opened the season on the road, Monday night with a win. LVS travelled to Bishop Lynch and just like that, in the 8th minute, Mya Ulloa smashed a free kick in the bottom corner.
The cold front had just moved through, the field was soaked, and the rain was falling for most of the game. The conditions weren't perfect but the performance was. "It's about the process. We have a lot to prove and lots of motivation," said LVS head coach, Jay Fitzgerald.
The Lady Vikings started the game with a sense of purpose. That purpose was the same throughout the team. Both teams felt each other out in the first 8 minutes until the games first goal and then the battle was back and forth.
Bishop Lynch is trying to defend its 2019 State Championship, while the Lady Vikings have a brand new mentality, a freshness with incredible chemistry, a new beginning if you may.
Senior, defender, Katherine Gilpin mentioned, "We had to overcome a lot from last year and throughout the summer. I have never been a part of a team as close as we have this year; our team is different."
The end to end action continued throughout the first half with players from both teams competing at the highest level. The Lady Friars have always attacked in waves and the Lady Vikings were up to the challenge with a couple crucial stops by the young LVS goalkeeper, Alle Steining. Steining had a solid game cleaning up the box, giving her team a chance to play with the lead.
From back to front the Lady Vikings were connected and on the same page. Center backs, Alyssa Spotts and Grace Gnatovic flanked by Katherine Gilpin and Madison Ginani took control of the game. Fitzgerald mentioned, "we have not had this type of leadership from our backline in a long, long time. The spine of our team has a sense of trust that is possible because of the type of people we have on this team."
The Lady Vikings spent a good part of the beginning of the second half in their end and patience prevailed with some solid build up play, awareness, and execution.
With just about 12 minutes to play, Ulloa struck again with a sensational goal that started with some gritty defending to move the ball forward, a brave header, and then magic from Ulloa doubling the Lady Vikings lead to preserve the 2-0 shutout at the end of the full time.
The Lady Vikings return to the field on Thursday afternoon at Gateway Park at 3:30pm. Keep up with all the LVS news and updates on Twitter and Instagram @nolansoccer. Save the date for November 4th for the home opener as the Lady Vikings play host to the Ursuline Bears at 6:00pm and 7:45pm at Doskocil Stadium.