BETTENDORF, IA – Life must be getting pretty lonely for Indian Hills goalkeeper Lani Mears.
And if IHCC Head Coach Anthony Longo has anything to say about it, Mears' isolation can keep right on continuing for the remainder of the 2021 spring season.
No. 13-rated Indian Hills picked up its third shutout win in three outings thus far this year with a 7-0 blanking of Scott Community College Wednesday at Bettendorf's TBK Bank Sports Complex, and while her teammates are getting lots of action on the offensive side of the field, Mears has been rarely tested. The second-year IHCC goalie, and reigning ICCAC Player of the Week has had only five shots total fired at her over the three-game span to start the year, a fact that Longo is completely content with.
"Defensively, I can't say enough about our backline and goalie Lani Mears," Longo said. "They played a full 90 minutes and completely shut down Scott offensively. It a group that has continued to grow and improve game by game."
The goals came early and often for Longo's Warriors as freshman Rachel Kaut had a big day for IHCC netting a pair of goals to go with two assists.
Kaut got the scoring spree started with her first career goal in the seventh minute off a free kick. The former Southeast Polk prep wasn't done there; however, as she assisted on IHCC's next goal with a cross to sophomore K.J. Schmidt in the 15th minute to make it 2-0 Warriors.
"It was nice to see a couple new faces on the scoresheet," remarked Longo. "Rachel Kaut had a fantastic game overall and Avery Woldruff had a great performance as well."
Indian Hills would take that two-goal advantage into halftime, and after intermission, the Warriors left little doubt in the outcome.
The aforementioned Woldruff delivered goal No. 3 for IHCC right after the break with a finish outside the 18-yard box off an assist from Bailey Wiemann. Yui Okamoto kept things going just a minute later with another from outside the 18 with Kaut netting her second assist, and just like that, the lead was 4-0, Indian Hills.
"Putting the game away completely early in the second half was essential," Longo said. "The ladies wasted no time and the game was completely out of reach within the first ten minutes of the second half. Today we played a much more complete game, and the effort was great from the start. I liked seeing the focus and intensity from our players. The goals didn't come as easily in the first half, but we were in complete control throughout."
IHCC kept the foot on the gas despite the 4-0 advantage as Wiemann picked up her third goal of the season on the end of a Woldruff pass to make it 5-0 in the 51st minute.
Schmidt would get her second score of the game and fourth overall this season in the 59th minute with an assist from Okamoto.
"K.J. continues to be a standout for us," Longo said. "She has really come into her own up top and her efforts are being rewarded with goals."
Kaut put a capper on her career day to this point with her second tally of the contest with the help of Okamoto's second assist, and the Warriors remained unscored upon after three compete games.
IHCC has the long road trip to Norfolk, Nebraska Saturday for a 3 p.m. kickoff with the Hawks. The trek is one that Longo is leery of.
"Saturday's match up with Northeast is a tough one for us," Longo said. "It's a difficult place to go on the road and play. Coach Chad Miller has impressively built the program from the ground up and it's always a battle between us. This will be the toughest matchup of the year so far, and I'm excited to see how we handle the challenge as a group."
Scoring Summary
Period Time Team Play V-H
1st 7:00 IH Rachel Kaut (free kick) 1-0
1st 15:00 IH K.J. Schmidt (from Kaut) 2-0
2nd 47:00 IH Avery Woldruff (from Bailey Wiemann) 3-0
2nd 48:00 IH Yui Okamoto (from Kaut) 4-0
2nd 51:00 IH Wiemann (from Woldruff) 5-0
2nd 59:00 IH Schmidt (from Okamoto) 6-0
2nd 80:00 IH Kaut (from Okamoto) 7-0