BonnerSprings.com

Consider it a measuring stick for the Bonner Springs girls soccer program.

In that regard, the Bravettes’ 7-1 loss Tuesday at Mill Valley takes on a different dimension.

The Jaguars are having their most successful season in program history and improved to 14-1, yet the Bravettes scored their first goal ever against MVHS on Tuesday and snapped a string of three straight 10-0 losses to the Jaguars.

Viewed from a historical standpoint and a numerical standpoint, BSHS coach Mike Moulin can chalk up the defeat as a step forward.

Take, for instance, the fact that Bonner Springs not only survived an opening-minute barrage on the goal by Mill Valley, but the Bravettes also struck first.

Senior Tessa Seaton drove the ball down the right side and crossed it perfectly to a waiting Alex Ardugo. She settled the ball before it was deflected away to junior Chelsea Crawford who wound up and hammered the ball into the net from 30 yards away.

The goal was Crawford’s second of the season, and it came less than seven minutes into the game.

“This team can come alive and play at times,” Moulin said. “We are not consistent enough yet and we are a young, young squad.”

The goal lit a fire under Mill Valley, and the Jaguars responded with a goal two minutes later as Miranda Lopez found the net from 18 yards out.

The score remained tied until the 26th minute when Mill Valley took the lead for good on a put-back by Jenna Wells after BSHS goalkeeper Yessenia Hernandez blocked a shot by Kyndra Ziegler.

Carlie Howe added another goal just before halftime and gave MVHS a 3-1 lead at intermission.

Hernandez kept BSHS in the game along with some of her defenders in the first half by turning away several golden opportunities for Mill Valley. Hernandez made a couple of great leaping saves in the largely unbalanced first half, causing several ovations from her bench. Defender Anna Deegan also headed away a ball right in front of the goal after a MVHS forward got past Hernandez.

“(Despite the score) our defense turned in a stellar performance considering that (the Jaguars) were always on the attack,” Moulin said.

Being within a couple of goals at halftime was certainly a moral victory, and Moulin was quick to recognize that his team was playing almost to the best of its ability.

“To put one on the board early against a team like this means a lot,” Moulin said. “We have a young, talented squad that doesn’t have a lot of soccer knowledge yet.”

The second half was very similar in terms of chances on goal for the Jaguars, but a lot more went in. Kayla Hamner netted a hat trick in the second half and Ryen Hill added another.

With the victory, Mill Valley closed out an unbeaten run through the Kaw Valley League and outscored its KVL opponents by a blistering 35-2.

Moulin said he saw plenty of positives from his team’s performance, and he said it’s something the team can build on entering regional play next week.

“We can play with (anybody) if we want,” said Moulin, whose Bravettes are 5-9-1 on the season. “It is just going to take time and the dedication.”

The Class 5-1A regional brackets will be determined on Saturday. To find out who and when the Bravettes will play, check out bonnersprings.com this weekend.

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