The Pilot News - CGA breezes past LaVille in second straight shutout

As in the crosstown rout of the Cavaliers Tuesday, CGA got off to a relatively slow 2-0 start at the half.
“You have to give credit to their keeper. She pulled off some really good saves, especially in the first half,” said CGA head coach Nathaniel King. “It’s easy to drop your heads and just let everything fall to pieces but I think the girls did really well to still continue shooting and it paid off in the second half.
“I think with any game, the first half is slightly both teams on guard. They want to kind of feel each other out to see who the dangerous players are.
Mmutla, a junior attacking mid scored three goals — including an unassisted strike — capped off by a beautiful banana kick from the endline on a Victoria Weitgenant pass in the 47th minute to spark Culver’s four-goal second half.
Mmutla also recorded an assist, but three other Eagles tallied goals Thursday, including Jasmine Soo, Kylee Shipley and Erin Tress, and King was quick to point out the contributions of his entire squad in the win.
“She has the ability to change the game on her own, but we have to remember there’s 10 other players on the field and it’s her teammates that make her the good player she is,” said King. “I don’t like to kind of highlight individual players. She’s a good player because she has a good supporting team.”
Mmutla herself preferred to defer to her teammates, as well.
“It feels real good, and I’m happy that we won,” she said. “I’d like to say thanks to my teammates because we work together as a team.”
The game got a little ugly late with five yellow cards and a red card, including three yellows and the red by the Lancers, as CGA kept its starters in until the final minute.
“CGA is a good team, but I don’t know why they had to keep coming at us,” said LaVille head coach Steve Hodge. “Whether they had something to prove, but that’s coaching. They’re probably the best team in the sectional and good luck to them.”
LaVille closes out its season with the loss and bids good-bye to seniors Brittani Haygood, Kayla Urbanski, Anna Ruiz, Cassie King, and talented midfielder Emily Fuller.
“I’m proud of my girls. They’ve had a tough season,” said Hodge. “We haven’t had the talent, but it’s been fun coaching them. I’m losing a couple good seniors, which I really loved coaching. They got a little frustrated; it’s their last season, and that’s what happens.
“I was proud of them tonight. I thought they played tough. I told them at halftime I thought it was one of the best halves they’ve played all year, and you can see the talent on the other team.”
CGA moves on to a sectional championship rematch against Plymouth, which beat Bremen 2-1 in a penalty kick shootout in the opening game Thursday.
“We definitely will not go into that game too confident,” said King. “We know Plymouth’s a real good team, so we have respect for them in that way, but at the same time we’re going to focus on what we’re going to do for the game. We’re looking forward to it.”
• CGA 6, LAVILLE 0
At Argos Girls Soccer Sectional Semifinal
First half
Dineo Mmutla (Shawna Lesper-ance), 29th minute
Mmutla, 36th minute
Second half
Mmutla (Victoria Weitgenant), 47th minute
Kylee Shiplee (Mmutla), 50th minute
Erin Tress, 52nd minute
Jasmine Soo (free kick), 56th minute
Shots on goal: CGA 24, LaVille 0
Saves: CGA 0, LaVille 18 (Abbie Mcbride 13, Sydney Cannon 5)
Corner kicks: CGA 7, LaVille 0
Fouls: CGA 8, LaVille 9
Records: CGA 15-3-2