MINOOKA — Thirty-three seconds into Wednesday's non-conference soccer match, hosting Minooka seemed to let out a sigh of relief.
That was exactly how long it was for the Indians to dent the scoreboard against Joliet Central on a goal by junior Jillian Hetfleisch.
Less than one minute later, Hetfleisch scored again and the locals grabbed a tight hold on the match and never let it go.
Buoyed by the two early goals by Hetfleisch and goals from four other teammates, the Indians walked away with an 8-1 win. It was just the second victory of the season for Minooka (2-8-3).
"We're not a one-win team," Minooka coach Chris Brolley said. "We've played some tough teams ... but we've also fallen apart against some teams, too."
Not on Wednesday.
Hetfleisch scored her 10th and 11th goals of the season for the Indians before retreating to the back and playing defense. The junior has spent a majority of her time recently in the back, but Brolley said he wanted to get her up top against Central on Wednesday.
"She scored in the first couple of minutes and she could probably do that in any game, but we've had her in the back for now," he said. "She led the area in goals last year but she's had a target on her back. I thought it was good tonight to get her out on the attack because we've got the postseason and some key conference games coming up."
Hetfleisch said that the first goal happened so fast she couldn't recall much, other than the ball going in.
"I don't know what happened on the first one. I just got the ball and dribbled it in," she said. "I really don't remember. But the second one I received a pass and shot it in. The first one just ended up at my feet and I shot it in."
AnnMarie Bachmann and Alysha Alonzo were credited with assists on the two plays, respectively.
It was almost universally accepted that the two quick goals led to a complete change of mindset for the Indians.
"I think it made our confidence high," Hetfleisch said. "I think it made us do better."
"We needed this win," senior captain Alyssa Hemza said. "We haven't been winning a lot and this will be a big confidence boost for us. Maybe now we'll start doing better and we will play with confidence."
With Hetfleisch in the back playing defense for the rest of the game, the Indians got goals at the end of the first half by Bachmann, with an assist by Alonzo, Jerry Torres, with an assist by Lacey Viano and Marisol Galvan, with an assist by Torres.
In the second half, Bachmann (Viano assist), Galvan scored unassisted on a bomb from about 35 yards away and Haley Wienke capped it by scoring off a corner cross from Alyssa Hemza.
"It was great for so many people to score," Hetfleisch said. "Five scored today. I love it that we can get everyone in there."
Joliet Central's lone goal came with a little over five minutes remaining when Yessica Reyes scored beat backup keeper Bachmann.
"We played really good today," senior captain Alonzo said. "We really deserved it. Hopefully this boosts our confidence."
For the match, Minooka had 20 shots on goal at losing keeper Maria Gurrero while the Steelmen had eight shots on goal. Winning keeper Rachel Herzberger made three saves and Bachmann four.
