Ladies are sharpshooters
Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Editor
The Lady Dogie Soccer team ended their season on Friday the right way as they traveled to Torrington for a rematch against the Lady Trailblazers. After losing in a shootout to the Goshen County team a month ago, head coach Cami Willyard and her crew were looking for vengeance, and they got just that as they defeated the ‘Blazers 3-1 in another shootout.
The victory also marked the first win of the season for the Lady Dogies.
“It was a great way to end the season,” Willyard said. “I wish it would have been a win in regulation because we definitely out-played them, but it was nice because it’s the first time in my coaching tenure that we’ve ever won a shootout. It was nice to know that we can do that, and it was great to get revenge for last time.”
The Lady Dogies had the wind in the first half so Willyard and crew were determined to take advantage of that to put some points on the board with a strong start. The squad created several opportunities throughout the first 40 minutes of play, earning free kicks and corner kicks and launched several well-placed balls against the ‘Blazer keeper.
“We played really well and totally dominated in the first half,” Willyard said. “Cheyanne (Bloom) hit the post, Christine (Swentesky) hit a post, there were a couple (of shots) that barely went over or went wide, so we were really pressuring them.”
At 25 minutes into the contest, Hailey Beastrom capitalized on a free kick to find the back of the net from about 25-30 yards out to give the Lady Dogies the 1-0 lead, which they carried into the halftime break.
“The keeper got a hand on the ball, but it got past her,” Willyard said. “It had enough pace on it that she couldn’t corral it so that was a breath of fresh air for us to be up going into the half.”
In the first 40 minutes of play, Kathryn Huber manned the goal for the Lady Dogies and although she didn’t see much action due to the offensive pressure her team was applying, Willyard noted that she had a very crucial save against the one shot the Lady ‘Blazers were able to execute in the first half.
Willyard admitted that she and her team knew that Torrington would come out in the second half fired up and ready to play, given that this game was their last one of the season and it was senior night for the players. They also had the wind with them in the final 40 minutes of play.
Eight minutes in, the ‘Blazers snuck one past Swentesky who moved into the goal in the second half.
“Honestly, we looked tired and a little scared for the first 10-15 minutes,” Willyard said. “We weren’t winning a ton of 50-50 balls and our defense seemed to be playing a little timid.”
After about 15 minutes of play, the Lady Dogies settled in and began trusting themselves more and the remaining 25 minutes of regulation was a back and forth contest.
“They did get one pretty scary shot that I was pretty worried about,” Willyard said. “But Ruth (Rose) fell in behind Christine and was able to make the save which sent us into the shootout.”
Torrington kicked first and went high and wide, then Beastrom stepped up and nailed her shot to go up 1-0
in the shootout. The Lady ‘Blazers then missed their second shot, however, Newcastle did as well.
Swentesky saved Torrington’s third attempt at a PK, which aired up the
Lady Dogies’ sails. Bloom then shot third for Newcastle and, with a confidence that belies her youth as a freshman, fired it into the back of the net giving the Lady Dogies the 2-0 advantage.
Torrington hit their fourth attempt so pressure was elevated as senior Taylor Conklin stepped up to shoot.
“The pressure is a privilege, and we needed to trust ourselves and have the confidence to get it done, and we sure did,” Willyard said, grinning. “Taylor just went in with confidence and put the ball nice and low and past the keeper on the left side, and the girls were so excited!”
“It was a great redemption for several of the girls,” she continued. “Christine won her first shootout, Hailey and Cheyanne missed their shots in Newcastle against Torrington and they didn’t this time, so it was great.”
Willyard reflected on the season, admitting that it was a challenging one with a lot of building that needed to happen with her squad. However, she expressed that she was very proud of how her team overcame the adversity of inexperience and low numbers to finish strong, and is very excited to see her team continue to grow next year.
The Lady Dogies will graduate three players who will be leaving some big shoes to fill as Beastrom, Rose and Conklin played their last game for the orange and black.
“Man, we are going to miss those three,” Willyard said. “We have six incoming freshmen next year so we will grow in numbers, but I’m looking for some of our younger girls to step up into the leadership positions that those three seniors are leaving.”
NHS Girls Soccer
Newcastle @ Torrington 5/16/25 1-1; Shootout 3-1
Hailey Beastrom: 1-4 shots on goal, 0-1 shot, 1-1 PK shot
Tealah Stevenson: 0-5 shots on goal, 0-1 shot
Cheyanne Bloom: 0-1 shot, 1-1 PK shot
Taylor Conklin: 1-1 PK shot
Ruth Rose: 1 save
Kathryn Huber: 1 save
Christine Swentesky: 2 saves, 1 PK save