By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Ada High School girls soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Fort Jennings 4-2 in a non-league match on August 22.

The Bulldogs scored three second-half goals to help overcome an early 2-0 hole. Freshman Rose Baxter netted all three Ada goals after intermission to spearhead the rally.  

“It is not often that a freshman off the bench gets a hat trick in a game,” said Ada head coach Doug Dewese. 

The Bulldog girls improved to 3-0 with the comeback win. The Musketeer girls dropped to 0-2 with the defeat.

FJ netted a penalty kick about midway through the first half to build a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Kenley Poling scored the Ada first-half goal to cut their deficit in half at intermission. 

The Bulldogs then outscored FJ 3-0 after the break.

“This was a good game to learn what we are made of,” said Dewese. “We had a very slow start, and some players were having off nights. That led to a 2-0 deficit that I was concerned about.

“With as young as we are, digging a hole like that could be a serious issue,” he continued. “Luckily, we had some different players step up and take control. Karley Wagner, Mady Freewalt and of course Rose Baxter played awesome.”

Senior Lexi Poling, junior Jordyn Smith and freshman Freewalt each dished out one assist.

“I think we proved to ourselves that we have the ability to be a really dangerous team if we want to be,” said Dewese. “This season is probably going to be like that the whole way through.

“When some players have down nights, others will need to step up,” he noted. “As long as we do that, we will find ways to win.”

Ada freshman keeper Emily Gibson made 10 saves in goal. The Bulldogs out-shot FJ 19-11, and the Musketeers also shot and converted a penalty kick in the first half. 

“We had to switch from a possession game to a very direct style of play to beat their back line,” Dewese explained. “I was impressed with our team to be able to make that adjustment.”

The Bulldogs put their unbeaten record on the line vs. tough local rival Allen East (0-0) in a rivalry battle Saturday night at 7 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium. 

The contest is the back end of a boys/girls Ada vs. AE doubleheader.