Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School sophomore Lindsey Roloff breaks away from the Fox Valley Lutheran defense on one of her many chances in the first half of a 4-0 Shawano victory at home Thursday. Roloff scored twice and assisted on another goal.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School freshman Kyra Klement beats Fox Valley Lutheran’s Shayna Wendt to the ball in the first half of Shawano’s 4-0 home victory Thursday.
Sophomore Lindsey Roloff played a part in every Shawano goal as the Hawks dominated Fox Valley Lutheran, 4-0, at home Thursday.
Roloff scored two goals and added an assist as the Hawks (2-1-0) pitched their second consecutive shutout.
Roloff and teammates Colleen McFarlane, Kyra Klement and Haley Williams continuously put pressure on the Foxes’ back line.
In the 35th minute, FVL goalkeeper Alyssa Charron got her hands on Roloff’s shot but dropped it and had to watch it roll into the goal.
Roloff was taken down in the box in the final minute of the first half, and McFarlane, a senior, converted on the penalty kick.
“I think we had a speed factor tonight that kind of just helped us stay on our offensive end of the field,” Shawano head coach Bob Croschere said.
The second half was more of the same, as McFarlane dribbled down the right side of the field before crossing the ball into the box. Roloff put a shot on target, and Charron turned the shot away, but junior Sydney Steinbach was there for the rebound to make it a 3-0 game in the 62nd minute.
Roloff put a shot off the post 13 minutes later, but then in the 79th minute got her second goal of the game on Haley Williams’ second assist.
The Foxes (0-1-0), who had not been able to practice outside prior to their season-opener Thursday, focused on playing better in their defensive shell in the second half against the pressuring Hawks.
“In the first half, we were getting ourselves too spread (out), and we were trying to get that back, trying to get ourselves condensed and in proper positioning to get our passing better,” Fox Valley Lutheran coach Kristy Wichman said.
The Hawks’ offense, which is still getting used to McFarlane’s role further up the field, has scored four goals in consecutive games. Croschere likes what he’s seeing there, especially the play of Roloff and McFarlane.
“As the season progresses, it’s just going to get better,” Croschere said. “But right now, it does look good.”
Niki Hoefs and Savannah Johnson helped keep the clean sheet for the defense. Hannah Milavitz, Lydia Colon and Makayla Stoddart worked around the back line as well.
Goalkeeper Carlie Hinnefeld needed to make just one save over the 90 minutes.
“I like the way everybody is playing back there right now,” Croschere said. “They are rotating well, they are communicating well. They are playing well together.”