Ottumwa, IA – Three of the nation's top scorers powered the No. 13 Indian Hills Women's Soccer team to a 4-1 win over Hawkeye Community College Wednesday night. The Warriors improve to 9-0-0 on the year.
Sophomores Risa Ogasawara (Yokohama, Japan/Hinomoto) and Bailey Wiemann (Burlington, IA/Burlington), along with freshman Ikumi Okumura Edogawa, Japan/Murata) combined for all four goals to lead the Warriors. All three rank in the top-five of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Women's Soccer leaderboard in total points and goals scored.
Okumura opened up the scoring in the 21st minute after capitalizing off of a Hawkeye turnover at the top of the box. Okumura's opening goal was the 11th of the year for the freshman. The Warriors outshot the Redtails 11-2 in the first half and went into halftime with the one-goal advantage.
The Warriors tacked on its second goal of the night at the 51:13 mark of the second half as Ogasawara converted a penalty kick opportunity, the sophomore's third goal from the spot this year. Wiemann joined the scoring flurry in the 66th minute after receiving a long through ball from Dare Kroeten (St. Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park) to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead.
"Bailey had a great second half for us," stated head coach Anthony Longo. "She couldn't get on the scoreboard in the first half, but really came out strong in the second. Dare had the play of the game being able to beat her defender and play a perfect ball to Bailey for the third goal. Dare has been great coming off the bench all year and today she got rewarded."
The Redtails responded less than a minute later to put a dent in the Warrior lead, only to see Wiemann bury another goal at the 70:45 mark on an assist from Mifumi Sasanuma (Tokyo, Japan/Shutoku).
"We had a great second half," Longo added. "The ladies were able to adjust and get back to our style. We were able to move the ball much easier and get our top players involved."
Freshmen Trisha Westphal (Lockridge, IA/Fairfield) and Sydney Ray Anderson (Elkhart, IA/North Polk) split time in net for the Warriors, with Anderson making her first appearance of the year in the second half.
Longo commended the defensive effort on the backline. "Defensively, Emma Zillig did a fantastic job filling in for an injured Abbie Bailey. I was very pleased with how composed she was in her first start. Our backline has been solid all year, and Emma continued that tonight."
The Warriors' home stretch continues with a 1:00 PM match Saturday vs. Iowa Lakes Community College at Schafer Stadium in Ottumwa.
"We are where we wanted to be after the first nine games," Logo stated. "Now we switch gears and focus on the conference matchups. Iowa Lakes comes on Saturday and we will have two good days to prepare for that."
WARRIORS DOWN REDTAILS - No. 11-rated @IHCCSoccerWomen topped visiting @HawkeyeRedTails, 4-1 tonight at Schafer Stadium to remain unbeaten at 9-0. Next up: Saturday vs. @IA_LakesSports at 1 p.m. #WeAreHills #WarriorNation pic.twitter.com/NHZMCfo0mH
— IHCC Athletics (@IHCCAthletics) September 16, 2021
