By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Badgers girls soccer team kicked off their 2026 season with a thrilling victory on Thursday, March 19, edging out the Scotus Shamrocks in a penalty kick shootout after a hard-fought 1-1 draw through regulation and overtime.
The non-conference matchup at home saw both teams battle intensely, with the game knotted at 1-1 after full time. Junior Tora Aken scored against Scotus in the second half. Bennington ultimately prevailed 4-3 in the shootout, securing the win despite the even scoreline on the scoreboard. Those four goals were scored by juniors Claire Miller and Ava Gifford, and seniors Autumn Christiansen and Maggie Tefft.
Head Coach Ed Anibal expressed satisfaction with the opening performance. “I’m happy… I think the team played very well,” he said in a post-game interview. “We could have played better, but it is the first game of the season. We’ve worked on a lot. The kids, I think, were nervous, a lot of adrenaline pumping. They settled down in the overtime. I think we did pretty well. I think it felt like we dominated for the most part.”
He acknowledged the bittersweet nature of shootout decisions: “Nobody likes to win or lose in PKs. It’s always nice to win, but as a coach, it’s tough for the other coaches. We’re all friends… but I thought we played very well. I’m very happy and it’s something to build on.”
Highlighting positives from the field, Anibal praised the squad’s unity: “I liked everything: I liked our effort, I liked our energy. This team is very cohesive. It’s actually a team, not a bunch of individuals, and I love that piece of it. We can work on the other aspects of it. It gives me motivation for the rest of the season.”
Bennington recorded 35 shots in the contest, showcasing their attacking pressure, while goalkeepers Rilynn Mercer, Norah Haley, and Mia Korth combined efforts in net.
Looking ahead immediately after the opener, Anibal emphasized recovery and mindset for the team before the weekend’s games in Kearney: “Rest. Focus on the positive things that happened tonight. Not just the win, but the hard work, the effort, the camaraderie that they show, all the stuff will work itself out in the next couple of games.” Anibal noted the nature of the game, saying, “You make more mistakes than you make good plays… It’s how you react after you make those mistakes, and I thought they reacted very well. As long as they continue that, we’re going to be great.”
The Badgers put that mindset to the test right away, traveling to Kearney for a pair of games on Saturday, March 21.
In the first match, Bennington defeated Standing Bear 1-0 in a tightly contested affair. The lone goal proved decisive, with the Badgers also earning 5 corners while limiting their opponents. However, in the second game later that day, Bennington fell to Kearney 0-3.
With the season underway, the Badgers, preparing for a move to Class A next year, have started 2-1, building momentum from a gritty shootout win and a solid victory before facing a tough setback against a strong Kearney side. Coach Anibal’s focus on effort, cohesion, and resilience will be key as the team continues its schedule.
