SUGARCREEK TWP, Armstrong County — Even on a muddy field at Sugarcreek Elementary, the defense for the Karns City girls soccer team is stifling.

Mud kicks up as goalkeeper Emily Schumacher digs her cleats into the muck and reaches high to snag a shot off the toe of a teammate.

Senior sweeper Erin McCue chases down a potential scorer and makes a slide tackle during a drill and Emily Jones, Taylor Brown and Abbey Wetzel patrol the goal mouth, not letting anything get through.

The Gremlins are practicing like they play.

Through eight games this season, Karns City has not been scored upon.

“I think it's awesome,” McCue said. “It's extra motivation to do even better. We don't want anyone to score on us. I makes me play harder and I assume it does for everyone else.”

Lisa Castiglione is in her sixth season as the Gremlins girls soccer coach. Never has her team been this dominant on defense.

“I just think they have found a good way to work together,” said Castiglione, who had to break in three sophomores on defense this season surrounding McCue. “Even when they have off days, they find a way to pick each other up. They've done very well at covering each other when something goes wrong.”

Even when things go awry, there's Schumacher back there to clean things up.

Schumacher, also a sophomore, has been stellar in goal this season — as have Jensen Bachman and Morgan Deal, two more sophomores who have seen time at keeper.

The defense has done a good job keeping Schumacher's save opportunities at a minimum, but when shots have come her way, she's been up to the challenge.

“She definitely gives the defenders a little bit of calmness,” Castiglione said. “They know if they do make a mistake, it's not necessarily going to mean giving up a goal.”

McCue is the grizzled veteran of the defensive unit. Jones, Brown and Wetzel are all sophomores.

But they haven't missed a beat as the shutouts attest.

“It's a very good achievement for us, especially because it's the first year back there for a lot of us,” Jones said. “It didn't take very long for us to play well together. It helps having Emily back there.”

Schumacher spent last year in the field. This year, Castiglione moved her into goal.

She's tall, lanky and has great leaping ability — all traits that make a keeper special.

Schumacher also has a certain mentality that lends itself to success in one of the most stressful positions on the soccer field.

“She's unique,” McCue said. “It's great having her back there, especially during boring games. We have some nice conversations.”

Saturday's game against rival Brookville will be anything but boring.

Brookville will put the Gremlins' eight-game shutout streak to the test.

It's not like Karns City hasn't been pushed this season. The Gremlins played to a scoreless tie against Slippery Rock early in the season.

Schumacher had 17 saves in that game.

If Schumacher had her druthers, though, she wouldn't have to be bombarded to that degree.

“I know the defense tries to make it so I don't have to touch the ball,” Schumacher said. “That's the way I like it.”

The Karns City girls soccer team has lit up the scoreboard on offense, but also has turned out the lights on defense. Following is the results of the Gremlins’ eight games this season, all shutouts.<B>Opponent Score</B>Neshannock 3-0Clarion 5-0Slippery Rock 0-0Redbank Valley 7-0DuBois 2-0Keystone 12-0Forest Area 8-0Clarion 7-0<B>Total 44-0</B>