MUNSTER | It took a lot of shots, but Highland earned the a 4-1 win over Clark to advance to the semifinals of the Munster girls soccer sectional on Monday night.
Overall, coach Gordon Walker's team took 24 shots to get four goals.
"We're creating the chances," Walker said. "If we weren't creating chances, I'd be a bit more concerned. Doesn't the law of averages say you're going to get one or two of these?"
The Trojans and will meet E.C. Central after Sandra Lazano and Norma Lopez combined for seven goals in the first game as the Cardinals rolled over Gavit 7-0.
Highland's Kat Smailis nearly broke free in the box in the 27th minute but was tackled to the ground by a Clark defender. A foul was ruled on the play and Smailis scored on the resulting penalty kick.
It was the only goal of the first half, despite Highland having already taken 13 shots.
"Clark played very well," Walker said. "They made it difficult for us in the first half, for sure."
Katie Toweson tallied another score for the Trojans (12-3-2) in the 46th minute. Toweson hit the bottom left corner from about 30 yards out. Clark goalie Angelica Rojas appeared to be screened by her own defense on the play.
Barbara Maciel put a free kick into the net for the Pioneers' only score.
Katie Novosel added a goal in the 69th minute and Courtney Carpenters added one with 34 seconds on the clock to finish up the scoring.
In the first game, Lazano opened the scoring at the 10:32 mark for the Cardinals (6-5-2). The senior beat two Gavit defenders on a breakaway almost exactly one minute later for another unassisted goal.
Lazano added a third tally at 35:55 to complete the hat trick and another in the second half. She also had a pair of assists.
"I was really relaxed all day. I was just in a good mood when I woke up," Lazano said. "And I had a good mental attitude. I believed we could win."
Lopez' first goal came in the 28th minute. She scored again just before the half, with an assist credited to Lazano, to give the Cardinals a 5-0 lead at the break.
Lopez picked up her hat trick on a breakaway at 49:30.
Gavit (1-12) was held to only three shots on the night.
"It kind of took us a while to get started, but once we did we were fine," Cardinal coach Korin Maciulski said. "We got some great senior leadership tonight."
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