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 What a difference a year makes.
Last June, the Madison 56ers were routed by the Iowa Rush in their inaugural Women's Premier Soccer League match. Sunday afternoon, the teams met in the 56ers' 2011 season opener, with much different results.
Midfielder Lindsey Holmes had two goals and an assist as the 56ers posted a 4-2 victory in a Midwest Conference North Division match at Breese Stevens Field.
"It was a nice turnaround from when we lost to them 8-0 last year," said 56ers coach John Reddan, whose team finished 2-5-1 last season.
Iowa midfielder Alex Melin (Verona), who teamed with Holmes to help Verona win the WIAA Division 1 state title last spring, opened the scoring on a strike from 25 yards out in the first half.
Holmes, who played for the FC Milwaukee club team this spring, pushed the lead to 3-0. She nailed a shot off a two-touch indirect free kick, then scored off a feed from Marquette's Taylor Madigan (Waunakee).
The Rush (0-3-0) cut their deficit to two by converting a breakaway against University of Wisconsin goalkeeper Michele Dalton. But the 56ers answered with one of their own, with UW's Lauren Cochlin finishing off a through ball by Holmes.
"We scored some nice goals, we did some very good things," Reddan said. "We did OK for a good portion of it, but fitness actually was a factor for us and we weren't real strong at the end, but did the job."
Forward Carolyne Prevost, a UW women's hockey player, made her debut for the 56ers.
"For someone who hasn't really been playing on a regular basis, soccer that is, I thought she did a very nice job," Reddan said of Prevost, who played soccer growing up in Canada. "She's getting better; the more she's with the ball, the better things get. It's pretty clear, the athleticism she has."
One player who won't be joining the 56ers this summer is midfielder Marta Wangard (Brookfield). The 2012 UW recruit, who plays for IMG Academy in Florida, suffered a torn ACL in her knee last month.
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