By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Badgers girls soccer team is hitting its stride after several wins on the road. With four consecutive road wins, including an overtime victory at Elkhorn followed by shutouts against Lincoln Northwest and Standing Bear, the Badger girls have improved to 6-2 on the season. Along the way, they’ve shown resilience, depth, and a defensive identity that continues to anchor their success.
“The team is feeling really good where we are and they are looking forward to slowing down a bit,” head coach Ed Anibal said. “They are starting to gel as a team and growing confidence on a daily basis.”
The stretch began March 30 with a hard-fought battle at Elkhorn, where neither team could find the back of the net in regulation or overtime, resulting in a 0-0 draw.
The match ultimately came down to a penalty kick shootout, where Bennington edged Elkhorn 7-6 in dramatic fashion. Converting for the Badgers were Claire Miller, Autumn Christiansen, Lila Pick, Rihanna Rodriguez, Tora Aken, Makenna Ladenburger, and Aliya Molina.
The performance highlighted the team’s composure under pressure and set the tone for the rest of the road trip.
“This team fights until the end regardless of the score and result,” Anibal said. “A few of the male games went into overtime and penalty kicks which says a lot. They are fit, motivated and want to win.”
Bennington carried that momentum into an April 2 matchup with Lincoln Northwest, where the offense came alive in a 3-0 victory. Tora Aken opened the scoring, while Aliya Molina led the charge with two goals. Autumn Christiansen added an assist, connecting with Molina to help extend the lead.
While the Badgers have emphasized defense throughout the season, this game showed their ability to capitalize on opportunities when they arise.
The Badgers closed out the recent road stretch April 4 with a 1-0 win over Standing Bear. Lila Pick provided the lone goal of the match, finishing off an assist from Autumn Christiansen. The defense did the rest, holding strong to secure another shutout and complete the sweep of the road trip.
“Defense has been and will always be our strength,” Anibal said. “We just have to find ways to finish. Our game is very consistent and we are creating opportunities… we just are not seeing the goal scoring like we might have in the past. This will come. The dam has to break at some point.”
Throughout the streak, Bennington has relied on a balanced, team-oriented approach rather than individual stars. “Definitely working together as a team and understanding each others role on the team,” Anibal said about contributions to the team’s recent success. “We have a talented group of players with a deep bench. No superstars, just a group of talented team players.”
That depth has been especially important during the demanding stretch of away matches, where multiple players have stepped up in key moments, from penalty kick shooters to goal scorers and playmakers.
Now sitting at 6-2, the Badgers look to carry their momentum forward as they return from their road-heavy schedule. “Play our game,” Anibal said of what will keep this momentum going. “Stay focused, know your role and work harder than everyone else.”
With confidence growing and chemistry continuing to develop, Bennington appears poised to make a strong push as the season progresses.
