Danika Hoehn
For Columbus North girls soccer, an 11-game shutout streak has been about more than just the goalkeepers and defenders.
Bull Dogs coach David Young considers it a total team approach. Columbus North had that again Saturday in posting its 11th consecutive clean sheet in a 6-0 Conference Indiana win against Terre Haute North.
“It’s been a team effort with the mindset of, ‘Everyone defends,” Young said. “We defend from the front, and it takes 10 field players and the keepers to manage it. It’s certainly not a four- or five-person job.”
The Bull Dogs (10-1-1, 3-0) outshot the Patriots 24-8. Sophomore goalkeeper Danika Hoehn recorded five saves.
“My backline really helped me out with the shutout,” Hoehn said. “Everyone is doing amazing — forwards, midfield, defense — we’re all putting the work in, and we’re playing together. I think we’ve done so well. Especially from last year, we can see how much we grew.”
Three other sophomores scored the goals for Columbus North, all on rebounds of shots that bounced off the Terre Haute North keeper. Evelin Lopez struck first in the 18th minute, and the Bull Dogs led 1-0 at halftime. Rachel Fulp scored in the 45th minute, and Avery Baker converted in the 79th minute.
Young played nearly his entire varsity roster.
“I think it’s a testament to our conditioning and to be able to rotate in players,” Young said. “We rotated 19 kids in today, and in the heat and on a big field, I think ultimately, we just kind of wore them down.”
