BY will johnson

sports editor

wjohnson@wardpub.com

Competing in the Washington soccer tournament the past few seasons, Jordan Palmer’s Owensville Dutchgirl soccer team will host their own tournament next week at Dutchmen Field.

Starting next Wednesday, April 24, Palmer’s Dutchgirls will see three familiar opponents pay a visit to Dutchmen Field over a four-day span.

Kicking off the tournament next Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., will be Wright City’s Lady Wildcats and Sullivan’s Lady Eagles followed by a 6:30 p.m., showdown between the host Dutchgirls and St. James’ Lady Tigers.

Tournament action will continue on Friday, April 26 when Wright City will face St. James at 4:30 p.m., followed by Owensville and Sullivan squaring off at 6:30 p.m., on the Dutchmen Field turf. Palmer’s Dutchgirls will look for their second win against the Lady Eagles this season following a 3-2 win back on Monday, April 8 at Dutchmen Field

Concluding the morning of Saturday April 27, St. James and Sullivan will meet at 9 a.m., followed at 11 a.m., by Owensville and Wright City.

OHS handed Wright City a 10-1 loss last Wednesday at Dutchmen Field capping a stretch of five matches in six days.

Finding the back of the net five times in each half, Palmer’s Dutchgirls won their fourth match in a row on Dutchmen Field after falling 8-3 on the road in Waynesville back on Friday, April 5.

Just over 10 minutes into their match with Wright City, Destinee Busenhart broke the scoreless tie with a goal at the 29:28 mark of the first half.

Anna Finley doubled Owensville’s lead to 2-0 with a goal at the 22:41 juncture of the first half.

With Wright City called for a handball inside the penalty area, Busenhart cashed in the penalty shot with 19:35 until halftime for a 3-0 Dutchgirl lead.

Minutes later, Finley netted her second of the game pushing the Dutchgirl lead to 4-0 at the 16:51 mark of the first half from OHS.

Nearing the 10:00 mark of the half, Busenhart cinched a first-half hat trick with an assist from Emma Reed putting OHS on top 5-0 with 10:46 until halftime.

Shutting out Wright City during the first half, Alexis Altemeyer saw her bid for a shutout dashed when Hannah Kendall got the visiting Lady Wildcats on the board with 37:31 left in the match.

Getting goals from Erika Lauer, Busenhart and Finley in the final 20 minutes of the match, Owensville capped a productive but tiring stretch of girl’s soccer.

Last Tuesday night at Dutchmen Field against Laquey’s Lady Hornets, Owensville held a 5-1 lead with 15:41 left in the match on Finley’s third goal of the game.

In spite of Laquey scoring twice in a two-minute span, Palmer’s Dutchgirls held on for a 5-3 victory over Laquey.

Falling 7-1 Monday night at Battle in Columbia, OHS will look to get back on the winning track tomorrow (Thursday) on the road at St. James against the Lady Tigers with a 5 p.m., start time.

This match against St. James will also be key to the seeding of the MSHSAA Class 2, District 9 Tournament at Sullivan in May.