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Bowen leads Hillmen soccer team to victory
All-SWC defender makes switch to forward
pla soccer hamer
Platteville sophomore Cassie Hamer (21) corrals a lose ball during Mondays 30 loss to Reedsburg as senior teammate Courtney Bowen (18) gets ready for a pass.

     Platteville senior Courtney Bowen entered the 2013 season as a two-time, first-team All-SWC defender and the anchor of Platteville/Lancaster’s defense.
     But when team need dictated she make a position change, Bowen did so eagerly.
     With the Hillmen in need of speed and scoring ability up front, Platteville/Lancaster head coach Mary Hardyman made the bold move of switching Bowen from the back line of her defense to the very point of the offense.
     The position change provided almost immediate results as Bowen scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway in Platteville/Lancaster’s 2–1 season opening win on April 8 at Monroe.
     Last week Bowen was once again a focal point of the Hillmen offense.
     She scored in the 55th minute on an assist from sophomore Cassie Hamer to break a scoreless tie, sparking a 2–0 Platteville/Lancaster victory at River Valley.
     Hamer provided the insurance goal early in the 78th minute on an assist from senior Brei Reuter.
     Fellow senior Ashley Fitzgerald needed just one save for the shutout as the Hillmen defense, now anchored by Mackenzie Bartels — a second-team All-SWC defender last year — kept the host Blackhawks away from the net.
     Last Thursday’s SWC match at Richland Center, as well as Friday’s non-conference match at La Crosse Central were both rained out. Thursday’s conference game will be made up at a later date. Friday’s non-conference affair in La Crosse will not be.
     Monday the Hillmen dropped a 3–0 non-conference decision to visiting Reedsburg.
     Fitzgerald kept the Hillmen alive in the first half with half a dozen dazzling saves, but Reedsburg’s Deblock broke up the shutout just beating the sprawling Fitgerald in the final minute of the first half.
     Junior Kate Fearing made it 2–0 in favor of the hosts with an unassisted goal in the 46th minute.
     Senior Meghan Douglas provided the final insurance goal in the 56th minute.
     Reedsburg outshot Platteville/Lancaster 9–1 in the match.
     The co-op’s best chance to score came midway through the first half when Brei Reuter’s shot from 20 yards sailed of the crossbar.
     Platteville/Lancaster (3–2, 2–0 SWC) will return to action Thursday at Dodgeville. The co-op is also scheduled to host Sparta on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Platteville/Lancaster 2, River Valley 0
(from Tuesday, April 16 @ River Valley)
Platteville/Lancaster        0    2        —    2
River Valley        0    0        —    0
First half — None.
Second half — P/L: Courtney Bowen (Cassie Hamer) 55:01, Hamer (Brei Reuter) 77:05.
Saves — P/L: Ashley Fitzgerald 1; RV: Klubertanz 9. Shots on Goal — P/L: 11; RV: 1. Corner kicks — n/a.

Reedsburg 3, Platteville/Lancaster 0
(from Monday, April 22 @ Platteville)
Reedsburg        1    2        —    3
Platteville/Lancaster        0    0        —    0
First half — R: Deblock 39:21.
Second half — R: Fearing 45:45; Douglas 55:54.
Saves — P/L: Ashley Fitzgerald 6; R: Murdock 1. Shots on Goal — P/L: 1; R: 9. Corner kicks — P/L: 7; R: 4.