Union-North Tama senior midfielder, captain Charlie Keegan (1) skillfully controls a high ball while on defense last Thursday during the Knights shut out 3-0 of the Waterloo Columbus Sailors. Keegan was deemed the ‘Player of the Match’ by Union-North Tama head coach John Simon who wrote on Facebook following the game, “Charlie has been a force in the mid-field – playing great defense when the opposing team is attacking and then transitioning that into finding one of her open teammates to move the ball down the field when we are on the attack. She has no quit in her.” PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY – Union-North Tama girls soccer notched back-to-back shutouts on their home pitch last week, slamming the door 3-0 on both Waterloo Columbus Catholic and Cedar Valley Christian.

The pair of wins marked the end of a long week of play for the Knights who kicked off the week Monday against the undefeated, seventh-ranked Hudson in a road match. The Pirates shut out the Knights 5-0.

Union-North Tama played all three matches last week without their starting senior keeper Dacey Powell who has been dealing with a hand injury, Knights head coach John Simon told the newspaper.

“She will probably be out another week. [We’re] hoping to have her back the week of (April) 22nd.”

Against the Pirates, senior Dena Robb stepped in as goalie, tallying 23 saves for the Knights.

Union-North Tama defender Adelyn Sienknecht (17) works to stop the Sailor offense during last Thursday’s game in La Porte City. Sienknecht, a senior at North Tama, picked up the sport of soccer this season after last playing as a fifth grader. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Three days later on Thursday it was the Knights turn to dominate. In their win over Waterloo Columbus, junior forward Avery Knoop drove in the first goal courtesy of a run down the middle with an assist from freshman forward Mallory Karr some 10 minutes into the first half.

Freshman midfielder Hinley Mast notched the second goal five minutes later with an assist from Knoop. The Knights ended the first half up 2-0.

In the second half, Karr scored the Knights’ third goal with an assist from freshman Jaren Werner.

Against the Sailors, both Knoop and Karr had two shots on goal, while Mast had one.

Robb was again in the net for the Knights and made 11 saves.

Freshman midfielder Hinley Mast, center, is congratulated by her teammate Avery Knoop, right, after scoring a goal on Waterloo Columbus with an assist from Knoop. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The following evening during Union-North Tama’s second shutout of the week over Cedar Valley Christian, goals were again scored by the trio of Knoop, Mast, and Karr, while keeper Robb recorded six saves.

This week the Knights (3-5) are set to take on North Fayette Valley at Union Stadium in La Porte on Thursday beginning at 5 p.m., followed by another home game on Friday against Aplington-Parkersburg (4-3) also at 5 p.m.

Ahead of this Thursday’s game, Union-North Tama was fourth in the North Iowa Cedar League conference standings with two wins just behind Dike-New Hartford in third, No. 8 Denver in second, and No. 7 Hudson in first.