NP wins 12-0, Abner sets record with five goals

North Putnam freshman Kaelynn Abner dribbles the ball up the field during a match earlier this season. Abner set a NPHS record with five goals at Owen Valley on Tuesday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

SPENCER -- North Putnam freshman Christa McRoy tied a school record by scoring four goals at Owen Valley on Monday. She held it for just a few minutes.

Another Cougar freshman, Kaelynn Abner, picked up her fifth goal of the game in the 80th minute to set a new NPHS record in the teams 12-0 win.

"Those little mistakes I talked about?" NPHS coach William Gaskins said. "We fixed them."

North Putnam attempted 33 shots in the game with 21 reaching their target. In addition to the two high-volume goal scorers, senior Rebecca Booth, junior Megan Plessinger and freshman Emily Henninger each put one in for the Cougars.

North Putnam freshman Christa McRoy advances the ball during a gamer earlier this year. McRoy had four goals at Owen Valley on Tuesday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

Abner's five goals broke the school record, shared by six players, and her 11 points also set a new record. She scored all five in second half (in minutes 51, 61, 68, 72, 80).

As a team, North Putnam tied the school record for goals and margin of victory.

"We just worked on team play; getting the ball up the field and making that last defender miss to be able to get a good shot on goal," Gaskins said. "We did much better in our accuracy and, in the last third of the field, making that final pass."

Gaskins said his team did a phenomenal job playing unselfishly and setting up their teammates. The Cougars had their record-setting game despite missing sophomore Laurel MacGregor, the team's leading goal scorer coming entering the day.

Senior Autumn Wolf had two assists, Booth and Abner both had one, as did sophomore Lauren Johnston and junior Samantha Freije.

North Putnam took a 4-0 lead into the break then scored on the first rush after halftime. Booth's shot crossed the goal line just 42 seconds into the half.

The Cougars' defense was dominant, limiting Owen Valley to just two shots on net, both stopped by sophomore keeper Claire Sims.

NPHS is off until Thursday when it plays at Southmont at 5 p.m.

At Owen Valley
North Putnam..........4 8 -- 12
Owen Valley.............0 0 -- 0