Wednesday’s 5-0 romp over visiting Pratt Community College was as much a celebration as it was a competition for Allen Community College’s women.
Two of the team’s early sophomore standouts, forward Dot Usher and goalkeeper Phoenix Michaelis, learned earlier in the day that they were named the conference player and national goalkeeper of the week, respectively, for their roles in the Red Devils’ hot start to the season.
So it came as no surprise that the pair played leading roles in Wednesday’s shutout as well.
Usher’s three goals gave her eight on the season — through three games — and her second hat trick of the year.
Michaelis, meanwhile, was largely idle, but still clamped down against Pratt saving all three shots on goal, maintaining her spotless record on the season. Through three games, Michaelis has yet to allow a single goal.
“When goalkeepers get player of the week like that, you’ve got to look at the back line and tip your hat to them,” McGinnis said. “Like quarterbacks love their front line, goalkeepers love their backline.”
Allen’s backline standouts, Jasmine Sanders and Shelbie Purdon have been masterful at winning possession, thwarting attackers before they can approach the goal.
“And Jasmine and Shelby have been playing every single game, all 90 minutes,” Allen head coach Jeremy McGinnis said. “They came to play.”
Even more impressive, Wednesday’s victory came against Pratt, which also was unbeaten at 2-0 and was coming off an 11-0 victory over Highland.
“I told the ladies, this is a game where you can decide whether you want to make a statement that we’re the team that wants to win this conference and everyone’s gotta look out for,” McGinnis said. “And they showed it. They wanted it and came out and took it from them.”
With Usher leading the way, the Red Devils blasted their way to a 4-0 lead by intermission, before Usher finished off with her third goal minutes into the second half. She also assisted on Danielle Jeffcoat’s goal late in the first half. Allen’s Maci Beachler scored off an assist from Mia Evans for the Red Devils’ first goal of the day, at the 10-minute mark.
“That fifth goal, with the combinations and getting the ball through the channels, was absolutely phenomenal,” McGinnis said.
Allen cruised from there, shutting down any semblance of Pratt’s offense.
“I really think it’s coming together,” he said. “We can play soccer. That means pinging the ball around, playing possession, working combinations, playing balls through channels, playing quickly.”
Usher, one of the few standouts on the winless Red Devil season in 2019, relishes her new teammates and the squad’s torrid start.
“We have some really good players this season,” Usher said. “We have so many good pieces all over the field, with defense, middle and up top, and obviously at goal.”
