Mustangs blank Eaglecrest 5-0
Clem scores twice as Mustangs move to 4-0-1
Term it as an upbeat performance by Mullen on Friday.
“Very,” Mustangs head coach Matthew Guglielmo said after a 5-0 match victory over visiting Eagelcrest in the Centennial League.
The Mustangs moved to 4-0-1 overall, 1-0-1 in league, after displaying the ability to match up, as well as offer skill, speed, toughness and defense along with some depth.
“In the postgame talk, I offered praise, but also offered some things we needed to fix,” the coach said. “And that’s natural because we’ve set some high goals.”
At No. 2 in Class 4A playoff qualifying entering the match, Mullen was coming off a 1-1 tie at 5A Cherry Creek earlier in the week. A lot of Mustangs felt that they should have come out victorious, but there was no hangover or lamenting on Friday.
In particular, Macy Clem, a center-midfielder who has signed with Alabama and is playing in just her second prep season as she’s primarily a club player, went for two goals and keeper Emma Ryan was razor sharp.
However, Clem said she’s seriously enjoying the return to her school team and it shows – she’s tied for second on the Mustangs with five goals and is tops in shots, 16.
“I love it, especially with Mullen,” she said. “(High-school play) isn’t as intense as club, but it sure is fun. This team is awesome and I think we’re going to do really, realy well this season.”
Ryan, the backbone of the Mullen defense, has sparked an aggregate 23-3 scoring edge and on Friday was particularly noticeable when stopping one from point-blank range, being strong on corner kicks and halting another when 5A
Eaglecrest (2-4, 1-1) sent in a player with a step on the Mullen defense.
“I don’t know, I was in the mood today, in the right mindset,” she said. “I think we’re definitely progressing and we can get better.”
The Mustangs led 2-0 by halftime with scores from Clem and senior Kaylah Wanna, who upped her team-leading total to seven. Jaime DeBerardinis and Anna Seaman (tied with Clem) added goals. Sophomore Zoe Polzin, DeBerardinis and Wanna added assists.
“We were pretty dominant,” Guglielmo said. “But to be 4-0-1 is huge for us.”
Mullen is looking at a three-match week – Tuesday (6 p.m.) at Cherokee Trail and a big one, Thursday (4:30 p.m.) home versus Arapahoe in league, plus a makeup in nonleague Saturday (4:30 p.m.) against St. Mary’s Academy.
MULLEN 5, EAGLECREST 0
Eaglcrest 0 0 -- 0
Mullen 2 3 -- 5
Mullen goals – Macy Clem 2, Jaime DeBerardinis, Anna Seaman, Kaylah Wanna.
Mullen assists – Zoe Polzin 2, DeBerardinis, Wanna.
Mullen saves – Emma Ryan 7.
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