By By DON EDEN / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – Soccer is a kicking sport and Edwardsburg (12-2-1,7-1) failed to kick the extra point in blanking Buchanan (4-11-1, 1-7) 6-0 Wednesday in a Lakeland Conference contest.
"It was a tough game to play since it didn't change anything in the standings, but we never gave up and our younger kids saw more playing time," noted Buchanan coach Chris Froehlich. "Edwardsburg is a good team with quality athletes who shoot and shoot all the time."
The first goal for the Lady Eddies took 17:24 when sophomore Ashlyn Chambers fired a shot into the net behind goalie Shelby Welbaum.
Senior Amanda Mooth showed her left foot prowness 10 minutes later as she blasted a 20 yard shot into the left corner past the sophomore Buck goal keeper.
Buchanan's best chance for a score came midway through the first half when junior Rachel Bahr took a 10 yard shot caught by Edwardsburg junior Christina Hans.
"This was a good comeback after losing last Friday as we pressured their goalie and Hans made a nice save to get us going," stated Edwardsburg coach Ryan Rosenkranz. "Buchanan is a young and talented team and never quit."
Eddie senior Samantha Brousseau found sophomore Leslie Boyles alone seven minutes into the second stanza on Edwardsburg's fourth shot after intermission.
"The positive for this game was we had very good passing with the communication being the best all year," Froehlich said. "We had solid senior leadership from Mary Martin and Brianne Weldy who are excellent leaders with Carl Alyssa always working hard to lead our younger players."
Mooth and senior classmate CC Roberts combined on the final three tallies to close out the regular season on a positive note with starting sweeper turned forward, Roberts, netting the final two scores.
"The seniors played real well and very happy with how we are playing but we need to get healthy as we are looking forward to the tournament," remarked Rosenkranz. "It was a successful regular season and the program is in the right direction."
Buchanan will travel to Dowagiac next Tuesday for the opener of the tournament and Edwardsburg will host South Haven with both games starting at 5 pm.
The Eddies tied South Haven in the regular season while Buchanan beat Dowagiac 4-1 in the third game of the season.
"Dowagiac has improved a lot so it should be a very good game," Froehlich added.
Kyanna Green and Alejandra Guerro each scored a goal for Buchanan in the junior varsity contest which ended in a 2-2 deadlock with Kailey Vance and Liz Huff netting the scores for Edwardsburg.
First Half
Ashlyn Chambers (ED) Leslie Boyles assist 17th minute
Amanda Mooth (ED) 27th minute
Shots Edwardsburg 13, Buchanan 3
Saves Christina Hans (ED) 1, Shelby Welbaum (BU) 5
Corner kicks Edwardsburg 3, Buchanan 0
Second Half
Boyles (ED) Samantha Brousseau assist 48th minute
Mooth (ED) CC Roberts assist 69th minute
Roberts (ED) Mooth assist 74th minute
Roberts (ED) Mooth assist 79th minute
Shots Edwardsburg 14 (27), Buchanan 1 (4)
Saves Hans 1 (2), Welbaum 5 (10)
Corner kicks Edwardsburg 3 (6), Buchanan 0