Lady Skippers remain unbeaten

Mandeville remained unbeaten on the season as the Lady Skippers blanked the Slidell Lady Tigers 3-0 Tuesday night in the district opener for both clubs played at Skipper Stadium. MHS (9-0) got two goals from sophomore Emily Descant and one from Julia Hunter en route to the shutout. Slidell slipped to 1-2 overall.

Descant, who netted her ninth and tenth goals of the season, tallied her first goal in the 11th minute off an assist from Kaitlin Davis. Keeping up its offensive pressure, Mandeville’s Hunter netted her goal just eight minutes later to make it 2-0. Bailey Kleis, a returning all-state player, who was named MHS’ top defender, was credited with an assist on Hunter’s goal. The Mandeville defense limited Slidell to just two shots on goal, which junior goalkeeper Abby Post handled.

Descant said she felt the Lady Skippers played pretty well.

“We should have possessed the ball more, but overall we played pretty good. We could have played more to our feet instead of just kicking the ball in the air. We needed to control the ball more,” Descant said.

Mandeville’s usually high-powered offense fired off 18 shots, but was kept in check by a solid Slidell defense with the half ending with the Lady Skippers holding a 2-0 advantage. Slidell freshman goalkeeper Heather Nikolas, who came up big in clutch situations for the Lady Tigers, posted six saves in the first half.

Neither team was able to generate much offense in the second half. Mandeville netted the only goal of the half in the 46th minute when Descant ripped a shot that hit the left post and ricocheted into the net.

“I was able to dribble through the defense and was able to shoot it low to the corner,” Descant added.

Just two minutes later, Rachelle Giroir fired off a shot from point blank range, but was denied by Nikolas on a diving save. During the next six minutes of play Mandeville kept up the pressure firing off three shots, but on each occasion Nikolas turned back the attempts to keep it at 3-0. In the 66th minute, MHS’ Rachel Robinson got off a shot off a rebound, but her shot sailed wide right. The Lady Skippers’ Ann Coogan came up with a near goal as she rattled a shot off the cross bar in the 68th minute.

Mandeville coach Sean Esker said he was a little disappointed his team wasn’t able to make adjustments they discussed at halftime.

“We made some points at halftime, but we weren’t able to do that. We did add a goal early in the second half and we were able to keep them out of our net. We were pleased to get a shut out in our district opener,” Esker said.

SHS coach Shannon Gipson said she was very happy with her team’s effort, especially the play of the defense.

“I think our defense did a phenomenal job. Our keeper, Heather Nikolas doesn’t have a lot of experience, but she did an excellent job,” Gipson said.

The Lady Tigers named Siara Hanna as its top defender.

“We have a young team especially in key positions. I think we have a good year to come,” Gipson added.

Mandeville travels to Ponchatoula today, while Slidell is on the road against St. Scholastica Academy.