By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School girls soccer team opened its 2015 season April 14 with a resounding 8-0 non-conference victory at home against Palmyra-Eagle.
The Elks followed that with a 5-2 loss to non-conference opponent West Bend East April 16 at West Bend.
The Elks have not played as much as many of their opponents. An April 9 non-conference match at Fort Atkinson was cancelled, as was an April 18 non-conference match at home against East Troy.
The Elks (1-1) open Southern Lakes Conference play today at home against Wilmot (1-0-4).
Megan Skoczylas scored four goals against Palmyra Eagle (0-2). Kayla Malsch scored two and Ally Green and Olivia May each scored once.
Elks coach BZ Kayser said the Elks could easily have won by a greater margin.
“We put three weeks in at practice and everyone got to get some playing time, some game time,” Kayser said. “That’s the only real positive thing about it.”
The match against West Bend East (2-3) provided a stiffer challenge.
“That was a good team,” Kayser said. “That was a really nice team that we had there. It was their fifth game, and they have their soccer legs under them. That was our first game where we played hard.”
Kayser said the contest marked the first time the Elks played a 90-minute match. Wisconsin is part of a national test this season to extend girls’ soccer matches from 80 to 90 minutes.
The Elks led 2-1 at halftime. East scored within the first minute of the second half and scored three goals in the match’s final 11 minutes.