The Dexter Dreadnaughts have opened the season the same way they ended it last year – in the win column. The two-time defending Division II State champions began their run at a three-peat with a new team, different team leaders but with the same coach and the same goal – to win it all.
After winning the state title last year with a 3-0 win over rival Chelsea, Dexter Coach Keely Tamer talked about the “outstanding” senior leadership of the team that went 20-1-2 on the season and didn’t allow a goal in the postseason.
“We lost some key seniors but we are counting on others to step up and take over those leadership qualities,” said Tamer, following Dexter’s 7-0 win over host Skyline on Wednesday. “The seniors last year were really good and vocal leaders. We aren’t going to have that same voice this season. And we are still trying to find the character of this team and that will develop over the course of the season.”
SEE WLAA/DEXTER PHOTOGALLERY – 90 PHOTOS
“We are using a little bit of a different formation,” Tamer says. “We are trying to move the ball differently and I think it’s working and it will be interesting to see how it develops during the season. But we are still working out some kinks.”
The Dreadnaughts have a good mix of experience and youth heading into 2024. There are four sophomores and a freshman on the roster along with seven seniors. Every player in Dexter’s starting lineup played varsity last year and most started at least a couple of games.
“We have some good players back from last season,” Tamer said. “We have a good group. We were fortunate because we were deep last year so we lost key players but we had good depth and a lot of players played.”
The Dreadnaughts opened the season on Monday with a 4-1 win over Grosse Pointe South. “We had some good opportunities but their goalie played really well,” Tamer said. “We had a lot more opportunities than finishes just because she made some really good saves. Something for us to work on.”
The competition should be fierce especially for a team trying to three-peat. “Pioneer is always good and they are looking strong,” Tamer said. “Novi, Chelsea and Saline also should be good this year. The SEC always has good competition which makes us better and forces us to play hard every game.”
Dexter will see a familiar SEC team on Aug. 28 when the Dreads host Chelsea at 7 p.m. at Al Ritt Stadium in a rematch of the D-2 State Finals.
SEE WLAA/DEXTER PHOTOGALLERY – 90 PHOTOS
Field Hockey: Dexter blanks Skyline 7-0 – See WLAA-D Photogallery
