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SEYMOUR

It’s been awhile since the Seymour girls soccer team has topped Batesville.

Seven years in fact according to Seymour coach Greg Musser, who is entering his eighth year at the top of the Owls’ program.

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Bailey Lykins rifled in the lone goal for the Owls in the 16th minute of the game off a nice cross from Haley Westfall. It capped off a great opening series from Seymour as they pelted away at the Batesville keeper.

A lot of their early energy was due to finally getting out and playing a game after a long, hot summer of offseason workouts.

“Yeah, it had been since my first year here,” Musser said about the last time his team had topped the Bulldogs. “We had pumped this game up for the girls … and I was happy to get out here and let them get a taste of what all their hard work can do.”

Seymour battered Batesville to the tune of three shots on goal in the first half. Lykins nabbed two of those shots on target, netting her second one for their lone goal. Brooke Trinkle had the other from her right fullback spot.

Batesville, however, didn’t just lay over and made life tough on the Owl defense. In just the first 40 minutes alone, senior keeper Kate Snook had to fend off four shots on goal.

She saved six for the whole game.

Though they went ahead early, the advantage didn’t do much to settle nerves for the Owls.

“It’s actually more stressful,” Musser said. “It is always nice to get that goal and know you have a little bit of a cushion for a mistake if it does happen but it was an exciting game for us.”

The Bulldogs came out as the aggressor in the second half and made the Owls play catchup for most of the final 40 minutes.

Batesville was unable to get one past Snook and the Owls, too, were unable to add anymore cushion to their lead.

Alyssa Perry, Elizabeth Hartman and Lillie Wessel all had shots on target but they were swatted away by the Bulldog keeper.

Storms moved into the area and halted the game with 4:02 to go.

The long reprieve boded well for the Owls, who looked tired compared to the Bulldogs in the final stretch. Moving forward, Musser believes his girls need to do a better job with conditioning. Still, Musser was pleased with the way his girls finished out the game.

“It’s always stressful, as a coach, wondering if the girls are in the right mind frame,” Musser said. “It was a good response for us to be able to close that game out in those four minutes.”

The Owls continue their three-game homestand against Salem on Monday at 6 p.m. This is a varsity-only fixture.

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