Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – The first ever penalty kick appearance for Audrey Heineman ended in a loss to eighth-ranked Center Point-Urbana.

It was the performance of Heineman in her second shot at a game-deciding shootout that setup Solon with a rematch against the Stormin’ Pointers.

Heineman came up with a key save in a penalty kick shootout to help Solon to a 2-1 win over Regina in a Class 1A, Region 8 quarterfinal on Wednesday afternoon at Spartan Stadium in Solon.

“I think I learned something from that first experience but more than that I think it was just my coaches continuing to push me,” Heineman said. “My coaches pushed me during practice and that helped prepare me for this.”
Solon needed a late goal from freshman Sophia Link and a stellar effort from Heineman in the shootout to overcome a spirited effort from Regina (8-10) in the postseason opener for both teams.

The win sends Solon to the Region 8 semifinal where it will face Center Point-Urbana (11-1) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Fross Park in Center Point.

Center Point-Urbana defeated Washington 6-1 in a Region 8 quarterfinal on Wednesday and won the regular season meeting over the Spartans in penalty kicks back on April 11.

“It always helps when you have knowledge of the team going in, it helps with tactical strategy a little bit more,” Solon coach Amanda Paulson said. “The biggest obstacle for us is going to a grass field so we are going to have some grass practices the next few games.”

Solon defeated Regina 3-1 on March 25 on the same field in the season opener for both teams.

The rematch felt much different from the outset.

Neither team could capitalize on offensive opportunities in a scoreless first half.

Regina finally broke through when Alison Brandt slipped a shot past Heineman with 13 minutes remaining after an Alli Clark shot was deflected.

Solon didn’t go quietly.

“We didn’t lose hope, we kept pushing, we kept driving,” Paulson said.

The Spartans nearly tied the game when the ball was loose in front of the net following an Addi Greene shot with 2:36 remaining.

Less than a minute later the Spartans got the equalizer on a blast from Link from 40 yards out.

“Usually Grace (Yetley) takes the kicks and I asked coach and I’ve worked on it all season,” Link said. “I tried to aim for back post and it just went over the keepers’ head and went in.”

The third goal of the season for Link gave new life to the Spartans and eventually set up Heineman’s heroics in the shootout.

“I felt like we stayed composed,” Link said. “We stayed together because we’ve been in that situation many times and we’ve work our way out of it and it was just another one of those situations.”

After two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods Heineman sealed the win in the shootout.

Solon junior Rose McAtee converted her penalty kick to open the shootout and Regina’s first attempt sailed wide left.

After the team traded succession conversions Solon took a 3-1 lead in the shootout on the second Regina miss.

Heineman sealed the win with a deflection of a Natalie Gahan attempt.

“Her composure and her ability to read players has improved tremendously,” Paulson said of Heineman. “She is a volleyball player so she is used to quick ball movements and being able to see the ball move in transition and she has improved tremendously in her ability to read players.”

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