Girls Soccer: Dover ties Minerva
The Dover girls soccer team picked up its first tie of the season Tuesday in a 2-2 final against Minerva.
Dover is now 4-1-1 while Minerva is 0-3-1.
Dover Coach James Kline:
From the kickoff it looked like we had the chance to put this game away early. Unfortunately, we were unable to capitalize on a few early chances. But, about 20 minutes into the game Carley Noretto was fouled from behind and earned us a penalty kick. Bridget McCrate stepped up and hit the side post on her attempt, but luckily for us, it bounced right to Belen Bravo-Angel who was crashing the box for a rebound and scored the first goal of the game. The second half was much of the same with us earning opportunities, but being unable to finish them to put the game out of reach.
Being up 1-0 is never a safe or comfortable lead. It just takes one bad bounce, step, or play for the other team to tie it up. That’s what Minerva did, they capitalized on one of their chances to tie the game up 1-1 five minutes into the second half.
Credit to our girls though who clawed their way back to find a goal 10 minutes later when Carley Noretto found the ball that squeaked through and finished it to put us up 2-1.
After that, it looked like we had the momentum and ultimately the game. However, Minerva wouldn’t go away. They earned a few more chances in the second half and were able to find an equalizer with 12 minutes to go. Even though our girls tried to find another goal in the remaining minutes and had our chances, we couldn’t find a third goal.
Overall, games like last night’s fall on the head coach. I’m responsible to get the girls prepared for all facets of the game, make the right substitutions and adjustments, and get them ready to play 80 minutes. Yesterday, showed that I need to do better at getting the girls prepared to play the way they are capable of for 80 minutes and if they’re not, then I need to make better substitutions or adjustments.
It is a long season and I told the girls before the most important thing is to be playing our best soccer when the season ends Oct. 14 and the playoffs start. We will continue to strive to do that and to get better with each day.
We will now host the Zanesville Blue Devils on Thursday, August 31, with kickoffs at 5 p.m. (JV, 1 half only) and 6:30 p.m. (varsity). Thursday also is our senior night where we recognize our senior Lauren Grafe and her parents, Brooke and Tommy Grafe. The ceremony will take place immediately following the one half of JV play.