Offensive!

Lady Wasps off to 3-0 pre-season start

It hasn’t taken the Wasatch High School girl’s soccer team very long—in fact, less than a week, to offend three straight opponents.

In the season opener last Tuesday in Smithfield, the Lady Wasps bested Skyview in a close contest 1-0.

After a scoreless first half, co-captain Ashlyn Coleman scored on an assist from Ella Ballstaedt and that turned out to be the only score Wasatch would need. Torri Bills played exceptionally in the goal making several great saves to preserve the first victory of the season.

Three days later on the Wasatch pitch, the girls broke out with a four-goal performance against visiting Cedar City and took the decision 4-1.

Junior transfer Hayden Olsen scored her first goal as a Wasp in the first half and freshman McCall Scovil broke a 1-1 tie with her first career goal on the big stage.

The second half was dominated by Wasatch, on the beautiful Tuesday afternoon, attacking Cedar’s goalkeeper repeatedly as the Lady Wasps began to find some offensive rhythm.

Ella Ballstaedt of Wasatch works the ball towards the baseline where she was able to beat the Cedar City defense and score her first goal of 2014.

Only two minutes into the second half, Ballstaedt took control of the ball and worked it into the corner then along the baseline until she found herself positioned perfectly in front of the goal. The junior finished the excellent play with her first goal of the season.

Senior Emily Benson, after coming up empty on a couple of breakaways, found the back of the net for her first goal in 2014.

Coleman, and sophomore Katie Cranney each missed goals by inches on nice shots as well.

On Monday, the Lady Wasps kept their offense intact against visiting former region rival Park City. Wasatch jumped out quick with three first half goals, two by Cranney and one by Ballstaedt.

Scovil, who is showing early signs of being a scoring threat for the Wasp program, punched in her second goal in as many games early in the second half.

Katie Cranney missed on this attempt vs Cedar City, but scored twice against Park City.

The two dominating preseason victories allowed head coach Dawain Wheatley to rest his starters late and get more playing time for some of his reserves.

The fresh varsity legs will be needed as Wasatch begins region play Thursday night under the lights at Timpview, where the Lady Wasps hope to stay hot offensively.