In a Tuesday night match heard on KZTP The Bridge, the unbeaten Worthington Trojans dominated from start to finish in earning a 9-0 victory over Marshall at Trojan Field.
Omar Fernandez, who celebrated his birthday Tuesday, opened the scoring for WHS with 33:03 left in the first half, and Jonathan Banegas made it 2-0 with just under 27 minutes remaining before the break. Elmer Guzman scored on a fine pass from Edgar Carrillo and then added another goal a little more than five minutes later on a feed from Mir Gossom to make it 4-0, and Cristian Tomas and Fernandez added scores before halftime to make it 6-0.
Isaiah Nobles’ header made it 7-0 less than two minutes into the second half, and Banegas would score twice more -– the last goal coming on a penalty kick. The win improves the Trojans, who moved up from seventh to fourth in the state Class AA poll, to 12-0 on the season. Marshall, meanwhile, is now 6-6.
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In girls soccer Tuesday, the Trojans traveled to Marshall and were blanked 6-0 by the Tigers. Hannah Gordon had two goals for Marshall, while Maddy VanKeulen, Marissa Talamantes, Emma Mernaugh and Grace Gordon contributed one goal each.
WHS head coach Emily Ahlquist said it was a frustrating night for the Trojans, adding that her team did not show up mentally to play a match it could have had the opportunity to win. The team struggled in multiple facets of the game, which left its coach wondering about how it can be as inconsistent as it is from one game to the next.
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The Worthington Trojans’ varsity boys cross country team won the Warrior Invite on Tuesday at Slayton Country Club, compiling 23 points as a team to finish ahead of Jackson County Central (60 points) and Murray County Central (87 points).
Worthington’s Fanuel Wolday was the top boys finisher with a time of 17:34. Several other Trojans placed in the top 10, including Ofbeka Morke (fifth, 18:06), Mikele Walu (sixth, 18:29), Alec Langerud (seventh, 18:33), Mason Bobb (eighth, 18:35) and Filmon Wolday (10th, 18:47). Also in the top 10 were JCC’s Andrew Boyum (third, 17:56), and Evan Paplow (fourth, 18:01).
Among varsity girls, Murray County Central finished with 21 points to win the meet over second-place Pipestone Area and third-place Southwest Minnesota Christian-Edgerton, which had 54 and 93 points, respectively. Worthington was sixth with 132 points.
MCC’s Amanda Overgaauw crossed the finish line first in 18:43, and Ashley Overgaauw was second for the Rebels with a time of 20:49. Brylei Schreier was fourth for the Rebels at 22:18, and Ella Stapek and Quinti Parra-Mendez also placed in the top 10 for MCC. Pipestone Area’s Taylor Post, meanwhile, placed fifth, the Arrows’ Naomi Wallace was seventh, and JCC’s Olivia Anderson and Elese Paplow were sixth and 10th, respectively.
For the Trojans, Nicole Wede finished 21st with a time of 25:21. Among the others competing for WHS were Karissa Bickett (27th), Kenadie Thiner (29th), Jenna Hoffman (31st) and Anaka Wede (38th).
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In high school volleyball Tuesday night, host Luverne edged Worthington 3-2 by game scores of 25-13, 20-25, 26-24, 20-25, 15-12. The Trojans are now 9-11 this season.
Tarren Spartz had a team-best 16 kills for WHS; she also went 15-for-19 serving for nine points and four aces while also contributing eight digs. Ellie Weg had 12 kills, eight blocks and eight digs. Brooklyn Scheitel-Taylor added 19 digs, three blocks and 12-of-12 serving for five points and an ace. Kamryn Spartz was 16-for-18 serving for 10 points and three aces, and she also chipped in with eight digs. Addison Gerber had 37 set assists, eight digs and was 19-of-22 serving for 10 points and two aces.
In area high school volleyball action Tuesday night, it was:
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 3, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 0
Southwest Minnesota Christian 3, Adrian-Ellsworth 2
Murray County Central 3, Hills-Beaver Creek 2
Red Rock Central 3, Edgerton 2
Marshall 3, Mankato East 0
Trinity Christian 3, Harris-Lake Park 0
MOC-Floyd Valley 3, Sibley-Ocheyedan 0
Rock Valley 3, George-Little Rock 0
Boyden-Hull 3, Sioux Center 2
Sheldon 3, Okoboji 2
Unity Christian 3, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 0
Spirit Lake 3, Cherokee 1
West Lyon 3, Central Lyon 2
In high school girls tennis action, Worthington defeated New Ulm 5-2. The following are results by match:
Singles:
No. 1 - Makiah Otto, NEW ULM def. Marah Darling, WORTHINGTON SENIOR HIGH, 7-5 , 6-4 ,
No. 2 - Ivy jenson, WORTHINGTON def. Malia Emerson, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL, 6-2 , 6-2 ,
No. 3 - Kessey Aljets, WORTHINGTON def. Lydia King, NEW ULM 4-6 , 6-6 , 4-7
No. 4 - Bailey Newman, WORTHINGTON def. Emily Guggisberg, 4-6 , 6-4 , 4-10
Doubles:
No. 1 - Brooke Nordseth and Taylor Nordseth, WORTHINGTON def. Calyn Glaser and Melanie Merkel, NEW ULM 6-4 , 6-2
No. 2 - Katie Wilker and Lana Braun, NEW ULM def. Calah Riley and Madison Shaffer, WORTHINGTON 6-4 , 6-4
No. 3 - Madison Shaffer and Hannah McNab, WORTHINGTON def. Marissa Todesco and Nevaeh Ubl, 6-1 , 6-3
