News-Herald player of the week spotlight: Madison's Reese Meister reaches milestones, shows fortitude in process
Oct. 12—Reese Meister may not have realized it, still in disbelief over the scenario that had transpired Oct. 11 against visiting Perry.
The Madison standout junior striker accomplished something that sounds fairly simple yet is anything but — overcome a missed penalty kick to persevere for her side.
Meister did much more than that, amid a milestone-setting campaign.
Down, 1-0, to the Pirates in the 48th minute, Meister stepped to the spot for the Blue Streaks' first PK of the season after a handball in the box. The PK went begging wide.
Madison vs. Perry girls soccer: Reese Meister's late match-winner memorably propels Blue Streaks to CVC Lake crown
It merely set the scene for a redemptive arc, as Meister netted a brace, including a free kick in the 78th minute, for a 2-1 win that clinched the CVC Lake title for Madison.
⚽️ FT: Madison 2, Perry 1
This Reese Meister free kick 78th min into the grabs the result
Blue Streaks push unbeaten run in the series to 14 & clinch CVC Lake pic.twitter.com/tmjbkyPOH9
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 11, 2023
"Missing that PK was awful," Meister said. "(Madison coach Chad Butler) called me off the field and gave me a talk. I had to stay positive. I had to pick the team up — just bringing everyone up, communicating and encouraging them. It makes a big difference.
"Brushing it off and not letting it get in my head too much was a big thing because personally, I tend to do that a lot. I just let it get there, and it brings me down. But just forgetting about it and going on to the next thing. Just staying positive."
Butler could sense it as well but had nothing but faith in his pacey attacker that she would rise to the challenge down the stretch.
"After Reese misses a PK, I took her off almost immediately because I didn't care if she missed a PK," Butler said. "What I cared about is that she walked away and seemed downcast. I told her, 'It doesn't need to be true. But your team needs to believe that you're going to make this happen for us.' I told her to get back in the midfield and get the team moving.
"She went and found two goals. I'll take that any day."
Meister is up to 23 goals and 10 assists this fall for the 10-5-2 Blue Streaks and has recently surpassed the 50-goal and 20-assist milestones for her career donning the Madison kit.
⚽️ Madison equalizer through Reese Meister 52nd min
1-1 match pic.twitter.com/5JgWOn2jZp
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 11, 2023
The free kick to grab the result was a challenge onto itself, kicking directly into the light at sunset.
"When you're looking at the sun, it makes it way harder," Meister said. "Obviously if you're facing it, it's harder to defend. But when you're facing it, it's almost a black screen. It's hard to tell, so you just try to hit it in and hope it goes somewhere. I just got lucky."
While those milestones are special, she'll be the first to admit it'll be difficult to date to top a second-half brace including a late match-winner against a neighborhood rival with a league crown on the line.
Especially after finding her way back from in-match adversity.
"I mean, I don't think it can be topped by anything," Meister said. "The feeling with the team. The title. Celebrating just feels great with everyone."
News-Herald players of the week for Oct. 12
