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GIRLS SOCCER: Mitchell Knocks River Ridge From Unbeatens

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By LEE DIEKEMPER

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 13, 2008

TRINITY - Despite holding a 1-0 halftime lead, Mitchell High School start Marisa Russo suggested River Ridge had controlled the first 40 minutes of play.

So imagine what happened when the host Mustangs took control?

Mitchell pumped in three goals in the first 11 minutes of the second half and cruised to a 4-1 physical win over River Ridge Friday.

The loss by River Ridge was its first of the season.

Russo had the lone goal in the first half, hooking a shot just inside the right upright at the 34-minute mark. Arielle Anahore scored what proved to be the game-winner at 31:42 of the second half when she drilled in a shot from the center of the field from the top of the box.

But to hear Russo speak the Mustangs had to fight an uphill battle to win.

'They dominated the first half," Russo said shrugging off the fact Mitchell led 1-0. "The ball was in their end 75 percent of the time.

Mitchell coach Karl Kukec suggested his girls were trying to make simple plays complex which is why Russo suggested River Ridge (10-1) "dominated" the first half.

"[Russo] tried to play through four defenders," Kukec explained of how his girls played a complicated first half. "In the second half she drove through two defenders instead and then passed the ball off. We were over complicating the game. We had a lot of passes but didn't get any shots on goal. We had to focus on the purpose of the game and that is to score goals."

When the Mustangs (8-1-2) kept things simple, they took over Kukec said.

"We came out harder in the second half," Russo said. "But we have high standards."

It didn't surprise Kukec that Russo scored two goals (as did Shelby Wright).

"She is technically a great player," Kukec said. "She's able to beat two or three players. But in the first half she wanted to beat four players and that fourth player got the ball. Pass the ball."

"She's somebody you need to watch out for," River Ridge coach Skip Glover said. "I thought we played really well in the first half. I thought we could have been leading at halftime. Second half we didn't play as well."

River Ridge 0 1 - 1
Mitchell 1 3 - 4
Goals: Karl (R); Russo 2, Wright 2, Anahory (M). Assists: Russo 2, Wright, Jagielski (M). Shots: R 15; M 15. Saves: Jadick 9 (R); Seletos 8 (M).

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