Maryville soccer team lights up Cameron

Behind another prodigious goal-scoring display, the Lady Hound soccer team needed all of 45 minutes to put its home opener with Cameron to rest.

On a nippy evening, Maryville netted eight first half goals and two within the first five minutes of the second half to finish off a 10-0 win over the Dragons Tuesday at the high school.

Playing for the second straight day, the Lady Hounds improved to 2-0 and have now scored 17 goals in the first two matches of the year while giving up just two.

"They moved well and passed well," said Maryville head coach Bayo Oludaja. "That's what was I told them each time I brought them out. There wasn't much pressure on us in terms of the other team, and I thought it was an opportunity for us in that case to actually make some of those good passes."

Forwards Alyssa Stiens, Ashton Reuter and Mollie Holtman were the primary beneficiaries of Maryville's crisp passing display.

All three netted three-goal hat tricks, combining for all but one of the team's total.

This was Stiens' second hat trick in as many matches. Reuter now has five goals on the year. And Mollie Holtman, a freshman starter, scored the first three of her young career.

Junior midfielder Cassie Holtman, who had three assists, scored the remaining goal in the opening minute of the match. Stiens, Mollie Holtman and Jacqueline Ware also recorded an assist.

"I know we've had good players for the past few years, but I can't remember a time where we've had this depth," said Oludaja. "It's just good to be able to put so many people in at different times and still get the job done."

The Hounds got four goals from four different players in the first 10 minutes of the match and were off and running.

Cassie Holtman assisted on the second and third goals by Reuter and Stiens. Younger sister Mollie scored unassisted to make it 4-0.

Mollie's second goal in the 20th minute upped Maryville's lead to 5-0.

Reuter scored Maryville's next two goals in the 27th and 30th minutes, and Stiens completed the first half scoring in the 33rd minute.

Mollie Holtman reached her first career hat trick in the opening minute of the second half, and set up Stiens for the final goal of the match in the 45th minute.

Maryville controlled the ball most of the match, requiring keeper Shannon Johnson to make only two saves to post her first shutout of the year.

The Hounds are back in action Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. with a home match against Lafayette.

"This is what I want them to continue to build on," said Oludaja. "I know there are bigger challenges ahead. If we start off this way and continue to build, we'll get better and be ready for those greater challenges."