Losing just two starters from a team that advanced to the Section V girls soccer playoff semi-finals one year ago, Holley began their 2019 campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Midlakes in their season and home opener.
The Hawks controlled field position throughout both halves, but could not convert over the first 40 minutes of scoreless soccer.
“We talked (at halftime) about playing together more and tighter to stay fresher,” junior Kayleigh Neale said.
The Hawks were thwarted on three more scoring opportunities over the first ten minutes of the second half before finally breaking through.
A Neale corner was punched out, but right to the foot of junior Halee Passarell, whose shot was stopped, but senior captain Milla Steenholdt knocked the rebound into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute.
Passarell and Neale continued to control the midfield leading to the second goal ten minutes later. Passarell found Neale, who crossed to Steenholdt for an easy tap-in and a 2-0 Hawks advantage.
In the 78th minute, Steenholdt completed her hat trick after taking a cross from junior Allyson Skehan off the left wing.
“It was nice; I like it,” the Greenland exchange student Steenholdt said about her three-goal effort in her first varsity game.
The Hawks totaled 25 shots over the 80-minute contest.
Sophomore goalkeeper Leah Rheinwald, also playing in her first varsity game, was called on to make just one save in registering her first shutout.
