Hamann, GC/G-R girls blank Pirates in ranked battle (PHOTOS)

REINBECK – If Carsen Hamann is on her game, opponents will have a hard time getting a crooked number on the scoreboard.
 
In the first three games of the season, the Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck girls soccer team's goalkeeper had 10 girls in front of her that played well enough to keep Hamann from having to really roll up her sleeves.
 
Hudson/Dike-New Hartford provided quite the challenge, though, and Hamann, a three-year starter, delivered with 14 saves, including 10 in the first half as Class 1A No. 10 GC/G-R posted a 4-0 win against the 1A No. 12 Pirates.
 
"We come off three games where I didn't get much action and then this first half it's boom, boom, boom," Hamann said. "I knew my defenders wouldn't let me down and our offense was awesome. I couldn't ask for a better team."
 
GC/G-R has yet to allow a goal in its first four wins, outscoring opponents 22-0 in that stretch. 
 
Maddie McMartin started the scoring with a penalty kick seven minutes into the game after Hudson/D-NH committed a hand ball foul in the penalty box.
 
After that, Hudson/D-NH had multiple good opportunities that Hamann and GC/G-R's defense brushed aside. With under 10 minutes to play, GC/G-R got a little offensive pressure of their own and a deflection fell to the boot of Jacque Kuester, who fired a strong shot into the top of the net for a 2-0 lead.
 
"We struggled trying to find markings where people should be on defense, but after a little bit, we started figuring it out," Mara said. "What got us over the hump was that second goal."
 
The Pirates again came out firing to start the second half, but GC/G-R put together a couple of good passes to a streaking Maddie McMartin, who beat the keeper for her second goal, a tally that took the wind out of the Pirates' sails, down three with 28 minutes left to play. Reece Gordon added a fourth and final goal in the last minute. Taylor Gienger, Sydney Mathews and McMartin were all credited with an assist in Tuesday's game.
 
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