The Kearney Girls Soccer team put their best foot forward by toppling Van Horn in the Class 3, District 8 Quarterfinal game on Saturday. Both teams came to win, but the Bulldogs overcame with a 2-0 win.

The Van Horn Falcons came out with quite the punch from the first whistle of the game. The Falcons dominated the ball for the first 10 minutes of the game, and Kearney’s defense was put to the test early. Senior Emma Weightman, Junior Moira Olberding, Junior Jillian Bonderer, and Sophomore Gracie Bomar worked hard to keep the Falcons from scoring.

Goal keeper, Junior Kylie Deason made a few diving saves. Van Horn began to slow down and Kearney’s offense got to work. The Bulldogs controlled the ball well, but the Falcons were equally strong in their defensive stand. The half ended with a 0-0 score.

In the second half the Bulldogs came out with fire, but Van Horn was not going down without a fight. Midway through the second half, a foul committed by the Falcons let Emma Weightman set up on the 30 yard line. Weightman drove in a perfect ball towards goal where Senior Mia Adkins put it away for the first goal of the game.

Although Van Horn didn’t give up, they did not have the same drive they had during the first half. Kearney controlled the field of play well after the first goal, working the ball around the pitch. Then with just 5 minutes left in the game, Adkins found the back of the net again and that gave the Bulldogs the game.

Adkins was determined to drive the ball in for the win: “That wasn’t going to be my last game,” she exclaimed.

The Bulldogs travel back to Van Horn on Monday where they will face the Smithville Warriors for the 3rd time this season.

KPGZ Sports - Kim Adkins contributed to this story