By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
FAUCETT - Sophomore forward Peyton Anderson scored a goal early in the first half, and came through for a go-ahead goal with 1:27 to go, lifting Benton past Mid-Buchanan, 2-1, in girls' soccer at Mid-Buchanan High School Monday.
Anderson scored her first goal in the first half at the 12:42 mark off of a cross pass from junior Kamryn Allen inside the 18-yard box.
The Dragons (4-2) managed seven shots-on-goal in the first half, but it was the Cardinals (2-4) who led the match 1-0 at halftime.
"It was great," Anderson said on her team's start and overall performance. "I think we're finally putting passes together and getting our offense going, and that results in wins."
The second half was a back-and-forth, defensive battle for quite awhile, but Mid-Buchanan's fourth shot-on-goal of the second half was their biggest.
Freshman Liv Moeckli, who's been racking up goals all spring for the Dragons, scored on an unassisted goal from just a few feet away, knotting the game at 1-1 with 14:25 remaining.
It seemed from that point on that the match was headed to overtime, with both squads pushing the ball up and down the pitch. But after a throw-in near midfield, Benton saw an opportunity inside the final two minutes.
Freshman Reaganne Kovac took a strong shot from about 18 yards away that bounced off the hands of Mid-Buchanan keeper Mallie Lieffring, but Anderson snuck in from the left side and shoved the ball into the goal off the ricochet from a couple feet away.
Once Mid-Buchanan tied it, Anderson felt determined to give her team another goal.
"For me, it took me to a whole another level," Anderson said. "I felt like 'I gotta get one.' So, it kind of just motivated me more to get another goal."
Moeckli and senior Kacie Livengood both had a decent look at the Benton goal in the closing seconds, but the Dragons' final shot just before the final horn sailed wide left and the Cardinals held on for just their second win of the season.
It's a loss that stings a bit for Mid-Buchanan first-year head coach Danielle Beers, as she navigates the waters of a first-year program. But with 11 total shots-on-goal from the Dragons, there are certainly positives to take away from what was an all around close and competitive game.
"Still so much to build on, but still so much that's looking great," Beers said. "They're doing a great job of attacking. I thought that was the good thing about today. We were getting shots. We were getting through. We were attacking the goal. So, that's what made me excited."
Benton is home to Lincoln College Prep on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Mid-Buchanan stays home to face Cameron on Thursday at 5 p.m. also.
Benton - 14 shots-on-goal, 3 corner kicks
Brooklyn Colwell - 10 saves
Mid-Buchanan - 11 shots-on-goal, 3 corner kicks
Mallie Lieffring - 12 saves
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