The young Dexter soccer team is dealing with a number of injuries, players traveling, and on Thursday conflicts with National Honor Society inductions.
Still, the Dreads pulled off an impressive 2-0 win over Adrian.
Playing in the rain and wind with a short bench and three junior varsity players on the pitch, the Dreads took an early lead 1-0 when Carly Curry found the back of the net to beat the Adrian goal keeper, who happens to be a Division 1 commit.
The Dreads kept the pressure on moving the ball and found their second goal when Katie Turner hit the upper 90 from 18 yards out.
Near the end of the first half, MacKenna Graham hit a laser from 25 yards out that was disallowed for an incidental off-sides call.
Sophomores Sophia Plantz, Kayla Rivers and Bella Malek got their first varsity starts in the second half and Dexter did not miss a beat the first 20 minutes with consistent pressure and multiple 1v1 situations with the Adrian keeper. Adrian made a push late in the game and got two shots off, but Dexter keeper Skylar VanStrien was up to the task with solid hands.
The Dexter back line led by Kyle Cabana, Faith Renaud, Mia Stewart, and Anna Scaling with goal keepers Kayla Simpson and Skylar VanStrien pitched their second straight shutout and fourth of the young season.
“The team really gutted this game out,” said Dexter coach Jamie Lewis. “Third game of the week, tough weather, multiple starters out, and a number of players with nagging injuries and tired legs I could not be more proud of their mental toughness and heart.
“The kids who stepped up to contribute were huge and they helped us maintain some momentum with a big week next week. We now have multiple positions where there is healthy competition for playing time and I am really excited to see these young women continue to grow on and off the field.”
