Physical play carries Beth-Center
There were an equal number of bruises for both Beth-Center and Albert Gallatin, but the scoring was all one-sided. The Lady Bulldogs (4-11-1) scored three goals with three different players for a 3-0 road non-section victory over the Lady Colonials on Wednesday night.
With a background in defense, second-year Lady Bulldogs coach Katie Yohe was pleased with the physical play of her team.
“I have played against physical teams like this when I played at Ringgold so I knew what it was going to be like coming in,” said Yohe. “We have had physical games in our section, too, and to be a good team in a tough section we have to play like this all the time.”
Lady Bulldogs’ Nikki Hayges scored the game-winning goal at the 6:45 mark of the first half.
Lady Bulldogs’ Sami Caprini had a corner kick that was deflected back to her and she snuck the ball to Hayges in a crowded box for goal and a 1-0 lead.
“We have been working on set plays for corner kicks, but that wasn’t one of them,” said Yohe. “Hayges does a great job of making things happen. We might make a set play out of that now.”
Hayges led the Bulldogs with seven shots on goal.
Ahead 1-0 in the second half, the Lady Bulldogs added an insurance goal, courtesy of Aubree Wilson at the 13:02 mark of the second half.
The Lady Bulldogs picked up a third goal when a shot by Alicia Kriebel was accidentally deflected in by Lady Colonials’ Nicole Rhodes with the clock at the 31:31 mark of the second half.
Karissa Synder recorded 12 saves for the Lady Bulldogs, while Lady Colonials’ goalkeeper Emily Dillon had 24 saves.
For the Lady Colonials (0-14), next Monday’s season finale against Laurel Highlands now means even more for a team that is still searching for its first win.
Still, Lady Colonials’ coach Rick Hansen felt his team had more confidence after playing aggressively against the Lady Bulldogs.
“I felt we showed more aggressiveness,” said Hansen. “I feel the girls learned that they can actually play and have the chances to score if they are aggressive. We play like we are supposed to play and we’ll have chances to win.”
However, Hansen conceded that his team would have to counter the Fillies’ speed, which he said was evident in their 12-0 win over the Colonials on September 27.
“They jumped out on us something like two or four goals and we couldn’t catch-up,” said Hansen. “I’m going to make some adjustments with players that I should have made in that game and we’ll give it our all.”