Knights defender Dena Robb sends a goal kick up the field early in the game against Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck last Thursday at Union Stadium while keeper Dacey Powell (00) looks on. The Knights shut out the visiting Rebels, 3-0, in their home opener for the program’s first win of the 2023-24 season. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY – In their home debut last Thursday, the Union-North Tama girls soccer team scored their first win of the season against Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck, knocking down the Rebels 3-0 for the shutout.

After getting shoved onto her face by the defense, senior midfielder Molly Grote notched the Knights’ first goal of the evening with a successful penalty kick.

Some two minutes later and with just under nine minutes left in the first half, junior forward Avery Knoop took the ball hard and long down the center – skillfully weaving her way around the Rebel defense – for the Knights’ second goal.

Union-North Tama’s third goal came in the second half courtesy of freshman midfielder Hinley Mast – the very first of her high school varsity career.

The Knights’ shutout over the Rebels (2-2) – who were coming off a two-win streak over Marshalltown and North Fayette – was cemented by senior keeper Dacey Powell who tallied 18 total saves including several hard strikes she took on alone without her defense. As of this afternoon, Powell continues to lead the state across all classes in saves with 78 – a full 11 saves more than West Sioux keeper Shauna Salker who sits at No. 2.

Union-North Tama keeper Dacey Powell (00) leaps and snatches a GC/G-R free kick from midair during the Knights’ home opener played last Thursday in La Porte City. Powell’s 18 total saves during the match helped the Knights shut out the visiting Rebels, 3-0, for their first win of the 2023-24 season. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The following evening, the Knights traveled to Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids to take on Jefferson (3-1). While Union-North Tama ultimately dropped the game 3-2 to the J-Hawks, Knoop – who has been a part of the team’s leadership for three years now – notched another fantastic evening on the pitch, scoring both of the Knights’ goals as part of her six shots.

Against the J-Hawks, Mast recorded two shots-on-goal, while Grote and freshman Mallory Karr each had one apiece.

On defense, Powell added 16 saves to her season tally.

Union-North Tama (1-4) has three games on the docket for this week including a road game with undefeated Hudson (2-0) tonight (Monday) followed by a match at Union Stadium with Columbus Catholic (0-1) on Thursday and another home game with Cedar Valley Christian (0-2) on Friday.

Knights powerhouse junior forward Avery Knoop pushes her way down center in the lead-up to a successful shot-on-goal against GC/G-R last Thursday evening at Union Stadium in the Knights’ home opener shutout, 3-0, of the Rebels. The next evening, Knoop scored two more goals for the Knights against Cedar Rapids Jefferson. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Junior Ava Monat boots the ball away from Union-North Tama’s goal early in the first half against the visiting Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels last Thursday. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Union-North Tama sophomore midfielder Reagan Glenn, right, tries to stop GC/G-R’s Jada Blohm (4) from advancing any nearer the goal during the Knights’ home opener in La Porte City last Thursday evening. Also pictured, Union-North Tama’s Neeley Hennings (15) and Ava Monat (2). PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Union-North Tama freshman defender Scarlett Duclos (30) challenges GC/G-R’s Kali Aldrich for the ball during the Knights’ home opener in La Porte City last Thursday evening. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Knights senior midfielder Molly Grote kicks the ball toward GC/G-R’s goal as part of a penalty kick last Thursday night at Union Stadium. Grote made the shot which would become the first of three Union-North Tama goals that evening, leading to a shutout of the visiting Rebels. PHOTOS BY SOREN M. PETERSON AND RUBY F. MCALLISTER