For Emporia High goalkeeper Melanie Nuessen, Thursday night’s game against Topeka High was kind of boring.
Then again, that can sometimes be better than the alternative.
Topeka High only got one shot on goal against the Lady Spartans — which was saved by Nuessen — as the EHS girls soccer team came away with a 1-0 victory at the TRYSA soccer complex to end its regular season with an 8-8 record.
“It’s not really the type of game I like,” Nuessen said, “but it’s easier than having to get 20 saves in one game. I kind of liked it because I did get a rest after three games in a row.”
While it was true that Emporia was playing its third game in as many days, the Lady Spartans didn’t show it, as they seemingly forced the issue from start to finish, with most of the game played on the Topeka High side of the field.
“I was most impressed with our ability to even play this game after this being our third game in three days,” EHS coach John Decker said. “Most of our girls aren’t getting much sub time, and it’s really asking a lot of them.”
Even though EHS clearly controlled the game’s tempo by out-shooting Topeka High, 7-1, in the first half, the Lady Spartans had little to show for it, playing to a 0-0 tie at halftime.
Several times in the first half, Emporia players got shots past Topeka High goalkeeper Jackie Hoyt only to have them just miss reaching the net either by deflections by other Lady Trojans or by going just wide of the goal.
That made the Lady Spartans one frustrated group of soccer players at the break.
“I thought we had the game under control,” Decker said, “but like I told the girls at halftime, in a 0-0 game, it only takes one mistake.”
Emporia finally cashed in on an opportunity in the early stages of the second half.
Emporia’s Kylie White shot a pass to the center of the field for Jessica Decker, who took the ball in stride down the middle of the field while out-running two Topeka High defenders.
Just before Decker reached the goal box, she lobbed a shot over the head of Hoyt, who had crept forward and away from the goal. Decker’s shot landed softly in the back of the net to give the Lady Spartans their lone score of the game.
“Kylie White had a beautiful ball right in the center, so I just ran onto it,” Decker said. “I saw the keeper had come out a little, so I just knocked it over her.”
It would be enough, as Topeka High never threatened in the second half, finishing with just a single shot on goal compared to 18 for Emporia.
“This one is just another boost to our confidence,” Jessica Decker said. “It puts another win on our record, and it feels good.”
Next up for the Lady Spartans will be Regional play, which begins next Monday. EHS could receive a first-round bye and play on Tuesday, but won’t know for sure until Saturday.
Thursday at Emporia
Emporia 1, Topeka High 0
Topeka High 0 0 — 0
Emporia 0 1 — 1
Second Half
Emp — Jessica Decker (unassisted), 42:00
Shots on goal — Topeka High 1, Emporia 18. Saves — Topeka High: Hoyt 17. Emporia: Nuessen 1. Corner kicks — Topeka High 0, Emporia 3. Total fouls — Topeka High 14, Emporia 6. Yellow cards — Topeka High: Meyers.