By Ryan Grill
LANSING, Mich. – Lansing United earned their first win of the 2021 season Sunday afternoon. The win over the Chicago KICS came in dominant fashion with a final scoreline of 5-1. The Hoops move to 1-4-1 on the season, while Chicago moves to 1-2-0.
Although the game was controlled by United from the start, Chicago opened the scoring with their first real attack of the game. In the 6th minute the KICS’ Maeve Riordan was able to loft a shot from the left flank over goalkeeper Madison Clem’s head.
Captain Alexis Mitchell said, postgame, that she maintained confidence despite conceding a goal against the run of play.
“When they scored in the first five minutes it was really weird because we had all the possession down at their end,” Mitchell said. “I was like this is not happening again, we are not losing.”
Despite giving up the early goal, United continued to maintain possession and create chances until their breakthrough in the 27th minute. A failed clearance from a corner kick, served in from Lexi Ponstein, resulted in an opportunity converted by Lansing’s defender Athena Biondi, her first goal for The Hoops.
Biondi talked about the team’s collective effort to create more goal scoring opportunities.
“We’ve been lacking in that area, we haven’t been able to score,” Biondi said. “Today everyone sold out, anything they could do to get a body part on it.”
Just two minutes later, another corner kick gave The Hoops their first lead of the season. Again, Ponstein served in an enticing ball which found the head of Alexis Mitchell who redirected it into the back of the net.
Mitchell said United took advantage of poor defense by Chicago on set-pieces.
“The way they marked helped us, they didn’t mark very tight,” Mitchell said.
Coach Jason Crist also praised United’s set-piece success.
“We’ve got a couple people who serve them well and we were hungrier in the box than we have been.”
Lansing started the second half where they left off in the first, possessing the ball and putting pressure on the Chicago defense. Mitchell was able to double United’s lead in the 57th minute, converting a penalty after she was fouled inside the box. Mitchell’s brace helped secure her first win as captain of The Hoops.
The goals didn’t stop there as Camyrn Evans found the back of the net off of a Kaley Buck cross in the 72nd minute. Jackie Reily was next, converting a failed clearance into Lansing’s fifth goal.
Crist said continuing to have a full roster each match will be imperative to United’s success.
“We’ve been in all of our matches, our problem has been personnel, it hasn’t been quality,” Crist said. “When we have our people and we are able to get into a rhythm, I think we’ve got a pretty good team.”
The Hoops will be on the road for their next match against The Muskegon Risers on June 12.
