HCHS girls soccer struggles continue

 HARLAN -- The scoreless spell reached three matches and the losing streak extended to four late Monday afternoon as Harlan Community lost a 5-0 girls soccer decision to Missouri Valley at Merrill Field.
 Senior Eliza Martens produced a three-goal hat trick for the Lady Reds (2-2 overall) while Natalie Haynes and Sydney Austin added one goal each.
 Mo. Valley led just 1-0 at halftime before scoring four times between the 50th and 73rd minutes of the match.
 The majority of Lady Red goals came on diagonal shots from the right side of the box. On two such occasions, the wet soccer ball slipped right through the hands of Cyclone goalie Lexi Hoffmann, who also finished with nine saves.
 HCHS was outshot 16-5 overall and 14-2 on goal and has now managed just four shots on goal in its last three games while being outscored 16-0. The Cyclones will take a 1-4 overall record into Friday night’s match at Denison-Schleswig, then play at Tri-Center Monday at 4:30.