Apr. 13—COLFAX — Lily Anderson just wanted to be available near the goal if Meadow Lane needed her.
That's what she was thinking before she put a shot past Van Meter goalie Josie Bemis in the 61st minute of Friday's matchup against the Bulldogs.
Lane attracts quite the defensive crowd when she has the ball and sometimes the best play is to pass it an open teammate.
Anderson was ready and able to extend the Tigerhawks' advantage to two goals and Colfax-Mingo's girls soccer team went on to defeat Van Meter, 5-2, at Tigerhawk Stadium.
"You always want to be ready for the cross pass," Anderson said. "It looked like Meadow was getting hammered by multiple girls so I just tried to be open for an opportunity if it was there."
Lilyan Hadsall
Lane continued her hot start to the season with three goals and two assists in Colfax-Mingo's toughest test yet.
The Tigerhawks also faced their first deficit of the season when Mady Schnell scored in the 10th minute to put Van Meter in front 1-0.
A slow start by Lane didn't deter the standout freshmen as her first goal of the contest came in the 36th minute and tied the match at 1-all.
Lane dribbled past and through multiple defenders all night. She managed to get enough on the ball that it went through a diving Bemis and snuck just inside the left post.
Lane put the Tigerhawks in front for the first time when she made it 2-1 in the 42nd minute. She now has 18 goals and 39 points this season, which ranks second and third in the state, respectively.
"My sister Bianca (Lane) helps me a lot," Meadow Lane said. "I missed some shots early that I normally get, but I just kept shooting and eventually they went in."
Bianca Lane
Colfax-Mingo head girls soccer coach Zach Tomas said the key to the match was weathering an early barrage from Van Meter.
The Bulldogs have been super aggressive at the beginning of their matches this season. Once it got to halftime tied at 1-all, Tomas knew his girls were up to the challenge.
"We knew we'd know more about where we were at after tonight," Tomas said. "That's a well-coached team that has a lot of speed and is physical.
"I think we started to settle in at the end of the first half. Our conversation at halftime was that we can play with these guys. We weathered the storm, and it was time to play our game. I'm proud of them. I won't take the credit. This is a good group of girls."
While Lane came into the match with 15 goals, Van Meter's Schnell entered with 10. She scored her 12th goal when she put a shot past Colfax-Mingo keeper Emmalyn Buchman that tied the match at 2-all in the 44th minute.
Then Anderson scored back-to-back goals to put Colfax-Mingo (4-0) in front for good.
Ashlyn Finch
Lane again dribbled through multiple defenders and withstood some contact before dumping it to Anderson in front of the net for a 3-2 lead.
Anderson's second goal of the game also was assisted by Lane and came after a beautifully placed corner kick by Victoria Woods, who added one assist in the victory.
"I just tried to get that one in there," Anderson said. "I saw and I went after it."
Anderson is playing soccer for the first time in three years but also is dual sporting with track and field this spring. She doesn't mind coming off the bench in soccer because it allows her to see what she's up against when she does enter the pitch.
"It's very nice to be able watch the match early to know how I need to play," Anderson said. "I love it. These are awesome girls. I haven't played in three years. It's hard doing two sports, but I would not change anything."
Lane ...
