 Captain Maddie Couch defends the corner kick with Keeper Ella Soules  Determination following the Lions goal Story and Photos by Tara Hefferan Spring soccer season has arrived, and the Newaygo Lions Varsity Girls Soccer team is off to a strong start with one win and one loss in their opening matches. In their season opener on Wednesday, March 19, the Lions hosted the Montague Wildcats. Despite being a young team, the Lions showed heart and grit in what was a mostly defensive effort against the ‘Cats. Lions Captain Maddie Couch, who returns to the team after spending last year in Germany, anchored the backline, working with the defense to keep the scoreline close against a seasoned Montague squad. Lion Keeper Ella Soules faced 17 shots on goal, stopping 12 of them. The Lions struggled offensively, managing just four shots on goal, with none finding the back of the net. The Lions ultimately fell to the visitors 0-5, but the effort was there.
Commenting on the season opener, Newaygo Head Coach Matt Painter said, “The first game of the year is always a question mark for us as coaches. Did we do enough to have the girls ready, do we know what positions they should be playing, etc. On top of all that we were facing a very good Montague program! I felt that our girls stepped up and handled themselves very well. They never gave up and kept learning and improving throughout the game. I was very encouraged by what I watched out on the pitch tonight!” Shaking off the loss, the Lions took to the road on Friday, March 21, traveling to Wyoming to face the Wyoming Wolves. The Lions came roaring back, securing a 2-0 victory over the Wolves. Facing ferocious winds and a tough team, the Lions had no shots on goal in the first half. In the second half, following injury to a starting player, the Lions worked hard to find a bit of momentum. It came when freshman Ximena Magana made a short pass to Captain Landry Hefferan Nordlund, who broke through Wyoming’s defense to score with 12 minutes left. Five minutes later, this time off a throw-in from Kallyn Moore, Hefferan Nordlund struck again, securing her second goal and sealing the win. Despite a flurry of attacks in the waning minutes, the Lions defense stood strong, and Lion Keeper Soules faced just two shots on goal, stopping both.
Coach Painter shared his thoughts on the match: “This was a bittersweet experience tonight. As coaches we challenged the girls by putting them in different positions and slightly different formations on the fly. They responded well, and we eventually found a combination that resulted in the win! Unfortunately, we also experienced an injury that will significantly hinder our versatility on the field moving forward this season. That being said, we will look for our girls to rise to the challenge and step into new roles as we learn to cope with both the highs and the lows of our sport!”
The Lions look to build on their first win as they take to the road for their next match against Muskegon Oakridge on Tuesday, March 25. The Lions currently stand at 1-1-0.  Luella Hilden strikes a pose during a break in action
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