Madeline Lenkart scored the game-winning goal in South River’s 1-0 win over River Hill on Saturday.
After the goal, Lenkart excitedly pointed to a car parked outside of the fence at River Hill High School’s stadium. Around the car were a handful of River Hill fans who were heckling South River’s players, specifically Lenkart.
“It’s a great feeling when that happens, and it shut them up real quick,” Lenkart said.
The goal was off a free kick after a River Hill player was given a yellow card, and Lenkart put the ball in the back of the net off the cross. The senior forward said her teammates are “strong-minded,” and they don’t let things like overly boisterous fans “bother” them.
“We don’t let anything out of our control shake us, but we do let it motivate us,” Lenkart said. “Although that doesn’t throw you out of your game, it still affects you. You still hear it, but if you use that in the right way and use it to power you, honestly that’s almost a disadvantage to them, because it pushes us and makes us want to work hard. You want to prove them wrong.”