Chelsey Henry has played for Mahtomedi’s varsity team since the eighth grade and she has seen her role grow from substitute to starter in those five years.

The Zephyrs have also become accustomed to seeing the senior playing another part on the team: clutch scorer.

Henry scored with 8:46 remaining in the game, giving Mahtomedi (5-2-0), No. 10 in the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaching Association's Class 2A rankings, a 1-0 victory over Stillwater (4-3-0) on Wednesday at Stillwater High School.

"Any time she has (the ball) from the (18-yard box) and in, we know there is a good chance she is scoring," senior goalkeeper Amanda Graff said. "There isn't much that can stop her."

The Ponies couldn’t stop Henry on the scoring play. The Zephyrs’ forward got possession of the ball 25 yards in front of Stillwater's goal and dribbled through three defenders before placing a perfect shot into the left corner, just past goalkeeper Christina Bartingale.

"I like to place the ball, if I can, and saw that (left) side of the net open, so I took it," Henry said.

Mahtomedi head coach Dave Wald called Henry’s game-winner a “goal-scorer’s goal” and said it was a result his senior’s playing experience.

“A lot of players will cut to the middle and just try to drill (the ball) as hard as they can,” Wald said. “Chelsey knows that there is a better option, and that is why she scores so many goals."

Henry led the Zephyrs with 27 goals last season.

Henry’s on-field experience also allows her the freedom to attempt plays that would send other Zephyrs to the bench, Wald said.

"There are some things that she has done where, if she was a younger player, I might have pulled her, but she seems to come up with the big play at the end and, as a coach, you just let her do her thing," he said. "She is a senior now and has done some incredible things for us."

Senior forward Chelsey Henry scored with 8:46 remaining to give Mahtomedi, ranked No. 10 in the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaching Association's Class 2A poll, a 1-0 win against Stillwater on Wednesday at Stillwater High School.

Mahtomedi (5-2-0) bounced back from a loss to North St. Paul last week.

Stillwater (4-3-0) hasn't scored a goal in three consecutive games, all losses for the Ponies.

The Zephyrs will be on the road again Thursday at Tartan. Stillwater will host Tartan on Saturday.

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