Marquette’s Ivy Pickard goes for the ball during a high school girls soccer game against Sault Ste. Marie at the William R. Hart Stadium at Marquette Senior High School on Tuesday. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

“We were just passing and working together and shooting at those right moments.” — Anna Bauers, Marquette girls soccer coach, on the Redettes’ play last weekend in Minocqua, Wis.

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MARQUETTE — Sometimes all it takes is a few seconds for a team to find its groove and that was the case for the Marquette girls soccer team on Tuesday evening.

Just 30 seconds into the game, the Redettes got on the scoreboard with a goal by Kayley Elmblad and they kept rolling from there as Marquette shut out Sault Ste. Marie 3-0.

Elmblad finished with two goals, while Ivy Pickard picked up the other one.

Marquette head coach Anna Bauers said she liked that her team scored fast, but she also felt like the Redettes slowed down their pace as the game went along.

“We kind of got into what I call the ‘slo-mo zone’,” she said. “What I don’t like is when our players … we kind of play down to their (the opponent’s) level. It’s more slow and I like to see a quicker-paced game.”

Even with a cold breeze lingering in the air, the Redettes started off hot because of Elmblad. Marquette continued to put pressure on the Blue Devils and eventually padded its lead to 2-0 when a long pass from McKayla Quigley deflected off a Soo defender right to Pickard, who scored to the low right side.

With 14 minutes left, the Redettes almost got their third tally of the opening half when Averie Kelly sent a high cross to Lauren Kurzawa, who sent a good header on net, but it went just wide of the far post.

The Soo brought the ball into the Marquette defensive zone with 11 minutes left on some good teamwork from Sophie Swedene and Madison LaBonte, but the Blue Devils’ rush was quickly stopped by the Redettes defensive corps.

Marquette got one last good look before the half as Natalie Robinia made a sliding shot attempt, but it was saved by the Blue Devils goalkeeper with four minutes remaining. On the other end of the field, SSM got its last chance of the half when Swedene broke free on a rush, but she was cut off near the goal box by Sophie Bartlett.

In the second half, it didn’t take long for the Redettes to start swarming the Blue Devils net again. Just barely in, Pickard forced the Blue Devils goalie to make a diving save and with 34 minutes remaining, Kurzawa did the same.

About three minutes later, Pickard sent a cross over to Paige Britton, but the Soo keeper got to the ball just in time. Marquette had a rush toward the net with 14 minutes remaining and Kurzawa sent a good shot toward the net two minutes later, but couldn’t cash in.

Then with just over 10 minutes left, Marquette got its third goal as Elmblad gathered a cross by the far post and fired it into the back of the net.

The Redettes play at Iron Mountain Thursday before heading to the Waupaca, Wisconsin, Invitational on Saturday.

“Overall with our whole season, I’ve been very happy, especially this past weekend,” Bauers said. “We were in Minocqua (Wisconsin) and we didn’t get scored on at all. They played amazing and they were just working with each other. Our shots were amazing and we won 7-0 against a team who wasn’t bad. Our goals were just that good. We were just passing and working together and shooting at those right moments.

“So coming off that weekend, we were on a little high. I would’ve liked to see a little better playing today, but I’m hoping we can get it back for at least Thursday or this weekend.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.