Girls Soccer: Pirates Open Season 3-0, Smiley Earns 100th Career Win

By Siri Olsen  

The Hudson Pirates girls soccer team opened the 2026 season on Monday, April 6,  against the Aplington-Parkersburg Falcons. Ranked No. 3 in the preseason, the Pirates felt  more than ready to get the season underway.  

Hudson returned five strong seniors — Gia Baldiviezo, Callie Stickfort, Avery Ubben,  Desi Lang and Ella Steele. Three of the five have been with the program since their freshman  year, and all of the seniors’ commitment to the team has been exciting to see. The Pirates also  return a solid group of juniors and sophomores, along with a talented freshman class.  

Hudson arrived at Aplington ready to earn its first win of the season. Sophomore Tayler  Junker scored the first goal of the night in the opening half to put the Pirates up 1-0. Hudson  and A-P battled on both ends of the field until halftime, with the Pirates still leading 1-0.  

Early in the second half, junior Taylor Davis added a goal to make it 2-0. Despite trailing  by two, the Falcons did not give up and scored on a long shot to cut the lead to 2-1. Later,  freshman Cailin Stickfort added a goal of her own to give Hudson some breathing room. The  Pirates held the lead the rest of the way and earned a 3-1 win over a conference opponent.  

Hudson was back in action the very next day, Tuesday, April 7, hosting the Union  Knights. The Pirates knew they were in for a physical, fast-paced game, but that did not slow  them down. Hudson came out strong from the start and controlled the pace with solid  possession on offense and feisty defense.  

Junker scored two goals for the Pirates, while Stickfort added another. Freshman  goalkeeper Charlee Austin finished with three saves. Hudson held off the Knights for a 3-0 win,  improving to 2-0 on the season.  

The Pirates wrapped up their three-game week at home against Decorah on Friday,  April 10. The field was packed with fans and supporters, something the team appreciated.  Hudson started with a bang, especially on offense, as the Pirates found the back of the net  again and again. Hudson led 3-0 at halftime, then came out ready to roll in the second half and  added five more goals. On the other end of the field, the Pirates’ defense held strong and kept  Decorah off the scoreboard.  

The final score was 8-0, giving Hudson another win and improving its record to 3-0. It  was also a special night for head coach Ashley Smiley, who recorded her 100th career victory.  Smiley has led the Pirates since 2016 and has made a major impact on the program.  

Coach Smiley reflected on the milestone by saying, “Grateful for all the past and  present players who helped make this possible. So thankful for Ben, my rock through every  high and low. And incredibly appreciative of our family for supporting us as we continue to  share our passion for the game each season. Coaching is never easy, but just like sports, it’s  taught me to never give up and keep pushing to empower everyone around me to be their  best.”  

Overall, it was a great opening week for the Pirates, filled with wins and a memorable  milestone.  

The Hudson Pirates will be back in action tonight, Thursday, April 16, at home against  Dike-New Hartford. It is also ALS Benefit Night. Kickoff is at 5 p.m.