Boller lifts Mid-Prairie with overtime winner in regular season finale

By Jeff Yoder
Posted 5/15/22

The Golden Hawk girls soccer team wrapped up the season with a pair of dramatic victories over Washington and West Branch to head into the postseason with a record of 9-5. 

Julia Boller …

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Boller lifts Mid-Prairie with overtime winner in regular season finale

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The Golden Hawk girls soccer team wrapped up the season with a pair of dramatic victories over Washington and West Branch to head into the postseason with a record of 9-5. 

Julia Boller scored both Mid-Prairie goals in the final game of the season — a 2-1 overtime win at West Branch. 

Her first goal came early in the first half off of a great assist from Kaitlin Martin, but the Golden Hawks were unable to score again in regulation. 

“Then things kind of went stagnant for a while,” Mid-Prairie coach Justin Barthelman said. ”We got some good looks but their keeper played well. You could tell we played three games in four days, and all of it being in the heat, only having 15 players. We were slow to get to things and connect passes.”

The Bears also scored in the first half to tie it up. The game was still 1-1 with about 30 seconds left in overtime when Esther Hughes knocked down a West Branch free kick and made a long pass to Boller, who was streaking past the defense. 

With just the keeper to beat, she found the net in the closing seconds and sent Mid-Prairie into the postseason on a high note. 

Boller’s game winner gave the Golden Hawks victories on back-to-back days, bouncing back from a 1-0 loss to West Liberty on Tuesday. 

Thursday’s game with Washington came down to a save from senior goalkeeper Ainsley Lueck after the game went to penalty kicks following a scoreless overtime. 

Martin, Boller, and Hughes each converted a penalty kick and Lueck’s second save sealed the win. The four seniors came up big for the Golden Hawks in the senior night victory.

Evelyn Gerber and Lilou Beachy also played in their final home game on Thursday, while senior Leah Bontrager was in Sigourney, qualifying for the 1A state track meet in the 800-meter run. 

“This was all done without three starters and with only two subs,” Barthelman said. “We had girls step up in key spots and really play a great game.” 

Martin scored Mid-Prairie’s only goal of regulation on a penalty kick in the first half and went to overtime tied 1-1. 

“We were aggressive and held a pretty good scoring team to one goal,” Barthelman said. “They have two girls with 20-plus goals. So I thought our defense played really well. Lydia Beachy, a freshman, was great for us on the defensive side.”

Mid-Prairie (9-5) travels to No. 9 Solon (14-3) for a regional quarterfinal on Wednesday, May 18.