By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School girls soccer team lost a tough 2-1 battle to visiting Van Buren in the North Central Ohio Soccer Association opener on Thursday, September 4 at sun-drenched War Memorial Stadium.

The Bulldog girls fell to 7-1 with the defeat that ended the longest win streak in program history at seven. Ada starts out 0-1 in NCOSA play, while the Black Knight girls are 1-0.

Van Buren improved to 4-3 overall with the win.

“We had a lot of chances we didn’t convert,” said Ada head coach Doug Dewese. “We also got out of our style of play as we tried to deal with Van Buren’s possession.

“It was a good game against a good team,” he continued. “I think if we play them again in a week, the score flips. Van Buren had us scouted pretty good, they targeted specific players and tried to turn down our possession ability, and they accomplished it just enough for us to struggle.

“We literally just came up two defensive stops short,” he noted.

Junior Kenley Poling scored in the opening minutes off a pass from Alex Gibson to put Ada ahead 1-0 early.

The Bulldogs almost scored on a long through ball, but came up short five minutes in. Two minutes later, sophomore Avary Acheson stole a pass deep in the VB end but her shot hooked just wide left of the goal.

With 25:07 left in the first half, Black Knight senior Kami Bowman scored by booting a shot into the low left corner of the net to tie it 1-1.

Ada had a shot on goal with 5:07 left in the half, but it was saved. With six ticks remaining in the half another Bulldog shot on goal was gloved.

Ada came out strong to start half two and had two good scoring opportunities, but they were both saved in the 36th and 34th minutes. A Bulldog direct kick was also stopped with 33 minutes left. 

Acheson’s left side shot sailed just wide into the outer right side netting a minute later to keep it tied at one-all. 

VB put a shot on goal with 17 minutes left, yet it was saved by Emily Gibson. Ada earned a corner kick with 15:22 to go, but came up dry. Poling’s shot a minute later was stopped, as was another Bulldog effort with 13:42 to go.

Then with 5:27 remaining, Bowman got loose on the right side and blasted a running shot diagonally from about 18 yards out into the low left corner of the net to break the tie, 2-1. 

VB was awarded a corner kick after a skirmish with 4:44 left but could not capitalize. Neither team could mount another good scoring chance the rest of the way.

“I was very happy with our girls, and they were told not to hang their heads,” said Dewese. “I hope to see them (VB) again in tournaments.”

Ada out-shot VB, 26-12. Bulldog sophomore keeper Emily Gibson came up with 10 saves.   

“I was very happy with Shay Smith’s play and throw-ins,” the Ada coach offered. “Kenley Poling did a great job pushing our offense also.”  

Ada hosts former league foe Spencerville (0-4-1) on Saturday, September 6 in the back end of a boys/girls varsity twinbill.