Mariah Dickson doesn’t like having anything get past her. She plays every game to get a shutout.

Dickson, 12U KSA Lazers goalkeeper, came close on Saturday as her team defeated the Shawnee Cyclones, 2-1, at Youth Sports Inc. fields.

“I was hoping to get a shutout, and I was really bummed when that goal went in,” Dickson said.

Dickson got great help from a defense. Lazers head coach Ivan Huntoon substituted five girls in and out of the defensive line throughout the game. Lazers defenders Ashley Rasmussen and Nicole Humphrey anchored the back line with finesse play.

The two teams seemed to be evenly matched with talent, yet played with opposite styles.

The Cyclones played aggressively, using physical contact as frequently as possible. On the other side of the ball, the Lazers played with control and accuracy, allowing them to conserve energy throughout the game.

Wind gusts of 15-20 mph became a major factor in this game by favoring the Lazers’ style of play.

Madison Aiman, Lazers forward, used her speed and quick feet to keep the ball on the ground as she dribbled her way through the Cyclone defense. Aiman scored the first goal of the game off one-touch passing through the middle of the field.

The Cyclones picked up their defensive play the rest of the first half with defenders Madison Cowden and Chloe De La Pena making consistent stops on the wings of the field.

The Cyclones held the Lazers scoreless for the remainder of the half, but the Lazers took their 1-0 lead into halftime with well-rested legs.

At the start of the second half, Lazers forward Alexis Aiman, twin sister of Madison, came out and attacked. She scored the Lazers’ second goal much like her sister. She dribbled around the Cyclone defense to bury the ball in the left side of the net.

The 2-0 lead forced the Cyclones to bring extra girls forward. Even with six girls attacking half of the field, the Cyclones couldn’t penetrate the Lazers’ defense.

Lazer defenders Regan Keasling, Kylee Loneker and Katie Sarraf swarmed on defense to smother the attacks of the Cyclones.

They smothered all of the attacks until late in the game when the Cyclones snuck through the back door to spoil the shutout for Dickson.

Dickson didn’t get the shutout, but said she was still pleased that her team won the game even though she didn’t want to show it.

“It’s really exciting to win games, but you can’t act too happy,” Dickson said. “You have to be a good sport so the other team doesn’t feel so bad.”

The Lazers used the momentum from the opening round victory to carry them to the finals of the 12U division.