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York Suburban girls' soccer coach Tom Shugars knew that a lot would be expected of standout Mikala Kin.
She would be pivotal to his team's success entering the fall season.
Not that he wanted to add any more pressure on his senior's shoulders.
Shugars knew that his Trojans -- who shared the York-Adams League Division II title with West York this past spring -- lost a number of key contributors from that squad. So the Suburban coach suggested that Kin would need to be exceptional for his team to succeed this fall.
"She just can't be good," Shugars said. "She has to be better than good for us to be any good."
If Tuesday's division opener against the Bulldogs was any indication, Kin is clearly up to the challenge. The Suburban captain single-handedly willed her team back from a second-half deficit with three straight goals, helping the Trojans earn a 4-2 victory.
Kin also scored the team's first goal, giving the senior her first-ever four-goal performance.
"Mikala is just a quality player," Shugars said. "And she's also one of the nicest kids I've ever coached."
Kin rallied the Trojans after West York star Shyanne Kimbrough gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead midway through the second half. The two-time Division II Player of the Year drove through and around a couple defenders before tucking a shot inside the far post with 22:08 left.
"She's a real asset to our team," Bulldog coach Sarah Waybright said. "She can take the ball to the net herself and score goals."
It took just 108 seconds for Kin to respond in kind. She took a pass from the far sideline and dribbled around a defender. She then made a dash toward center and got off a quick low shot that sailed inside the far post to tie the game.
"In the past we've been known to come back from deficits so we know how to deal with it," Kin said.
Her final two goals came in short order and seemed to deflate the home team. With 12:33 left, Kin blasted a low shot from inside the box that deflected off a West York player and by the keeper. Just more than two minutes later, Kin took possession of a cleared ball and dribbled inside the penalty area before launching another low rocket into the twine.
"I just kind of saw how their goalie plays and it seemed like she was better in the air," Kin said. "So you just have to shoot near the ground."
Kin was delighted to get the Division II season started with a big win. Beating a rival on its home turf was just icing on the cake.
"To beat them on their home field felt great," she said.
Elle Stine scored West York's first goal of the game in the first half, heading in a crossing pass from Darby Sells.
West York goalie Stevie Gross collected five saves in the first half, while teammate Katie Tallman tallied two saves over the final 40 minutes. Suburban's Paige Grossman fended off seven of West York's nine shots for the contest.
OTHER GIRLS' SOCCER
DALLASTOWN 10, NEW OXFORD 0: At Dallastown, Alaina Curry had three goals and Meagan Newmister added a goal and four assists to lead the Wildcats. Kelsi Druck added two goals for Dallastown, which held New Oxford without a shot on goal or a corner. Dallastown had 25 shots on goal. The Wildcats won the JV match, 9-0.
CENTRAL YORK 4, SPRING GROVE 0: At Spring Grove, Mallory Shirey (two goals) and Sam Sweeney (goal, assist) led Central to victory. Brooke Heilman also scored, while Bri Carr and Katie Hackos provided assists. Alex Wright made seven saves to record the shutout. Leah Roy had eight saves in a losing cause.
YORK CATHOLIC 9, DELONE CATHOLIC 1: At York Catholic, Kathleen Johnson led the Irish with four goals. Megan Bresnahan scored one goal and added two assists, while Kaila Ilyes and Natasha Vadas each picked up two assists. Rachel Tucci scored one goal and added one assist.
SUSQUEHANNOCK 3, EASTERN 2 (OT): At Wrightsville, Jeanette Wilson intercepted a pass in the Golden Knights' defensive zone and shot one by the goalie with 5:05 left in overtime to give the Warriors the win. Wilson also scored an earlier second-half goal. Ashley Valway scored the first goal for Susquehannock early in the second half. For the Golden Knights, Leah Myers scored both goals, while Cassidy Layman stopped 15 shots in goal.
-- Reach Ryan Vandersloot at sports@yorkdis patch.com.
