Lexie Odum's five-goal performance led Southmont past South Vermillion in the sectional opener on Thursday.
Marissa Craig makes a move with the ball in Southmont's 5-1 win over South Vermillion on Thursday.
NEW MARKET — Have a day, Lexie Odum.
The Southmont senior found the back of the net five times in the Mountie’s sectional opening 5-1 win over South Vermillion on Thursday, which lands them in the sectional final for a third straight season.
“She did a great job for us,” Southmont coach Phil Keller said. “Five goals, and you can’t ask for anything more than that. She’s done a great job for us all season, and all the other girls on the team as well. They’ve done a nice job for us as well, so being able to put together a good team win really sets us up well.”
Southmont improved to 8-6-2 with the win and will now play North Putnam at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the championship game at Southmont. The Mounties beat the Cougars, who defeated Monrovia in the other sectional semi-final on Thursday, 2-0 back in late August.
In the first half Odum got the Mounties on the board with a trio of goals in the first 23 minutes, and the offense pounded out 14 shots, including seven shots on goal.
“Every game is an important game, especially at the end of the season,” Keller said. “It was good to come out and get the job done. We did what we needed to do, so I’m happy with the win.”
Alexa Gilman scored the Wildcats (0-9) lone goal on a penalty kick early in the first half, before Odum shut the door with another pair of Southmont goals.
Goalkeeper Belle Miller saved three of the four shots on goal by South Vermillion.
In his first year at the helm of the Mountie program, Keller is excited about the opportunity to help bring home a third straight sectional title.
“In order to reach our end goal, we have to reach our individual goals as well,” he said. “Getting this stepping stone is a good one for us moving forward, and I think we are going to have a good opponent Saturday so we’ve got to be able to come out and get the job done.”
