In their first meeting of the girls’ soccer season, the Liberty Hurricanes won on Freedom’s turf last Tuesday when Merve Okumus scored the only goal of the game six minutes into the second half.

“I got a great ball from Maddie Muller and I remember sprinting full speed, and then I looked up for a split second and saw their keeper was off the line, so I tried to kick to the opposite post and I guess it went in. I don’t remember because I fell,” said Okumus. “During a game like Freedom and Liberty, it’s not based off as much skill. It’s more desire, so I guess, in the end, we wanted it more.”

Some skill, more desire, and also some strategy as evidenced by some position changes made by the Hurricanes proved to be the winning combination last Tuesday night.

“The whole back four played well, Haley Jupina, Sarah Krouse, Katie Kelly, and Alicia Chambers,” said Liberty coach Scott Rodenbach. “We moved Madison Muller to outside mid, and I think we found a home for her. And we moved Jess DelCorso up to midfield, and I think that helps us a lot with starting to distribute.”

Shutting down Patriot forward Haley Gschrey was also on the Hurricanes’ agenda.

“I talked with our defense yesterday, and they played sensational. They did exactly what they had to do and beat [Gschrey] to the spot,” Rodenbach said. “I told them, we need to negate her, and if somebody’s going to beat us, it can’t be her. And I think we did a pretty good job of doing that.”

Offensively, the Hurricanes needed to find Okumus for one.

“I dribbled it and took a touch around the girl and then slid it through to Merve. I wasn’t sure she was going to get there but she got there. I honestly had no clue. They were dead even and she slid it right through,” said Muller. “Our game plan was to go in enthusiastic and wanting to win. That’s how you win. You have to go for it.”