By Cort Reynolds

LIMA - The visiting Ada High School boys soccer team defeated non-conference foe Lima Temple Christian 2-0 in a road match Monday evening, September 23.

Ada improved to 8-4 overall with the shutout victory. The Pioneers dropped to 2-6-2 after the defeat.

Bulldog senior Nathan Williams and sophomore Andrew Allen netted the Ada goals.

The contest was scoreless in the first half and for much of the second half before the Bulldogs broke through.

“Temple played a hard and physical game,” said Ada first-year head coach Aaron Acheson. “We had great defensive effort from Wyatt Fisher, Jacob Rush, Ty Mowery and Jude Griffin to earn a clean sheet with Jacob in goal.

“Temple had two to three players guarding Logan Jolliff,” he continued. “Logan persevered and did some really good things with the ball at his feet.”  

Ada scored its first goal on a throw-in assist from Wyatt Fisher to Allen at the 18-minute mark of the second half.

“Andrew was able to break loose from his defenders to get the go-ahead goal,” said Acheson. “He did a great job finishing in a crowded box. That was a big moment in the game for us. Great throw-in by Wyatt.”

Two minutes later, Williams then ripped a 20-yard shot into the top corner of the net to extend the lead to 2-0.

“Nathan was very active up top for us,” said Acheson. “He was moving from side to side in the attacking third. He was able to find some time and space above the 18 to send a rocket of a shot to the top right corner of the net.

“I am so proud of how hard Nathan worked to make that goal happen,” he went on. “He was relentless and made something happen to help his team earn a hard-fought win.”

Ada sophomore keeper Jacob Rush made five saves in goal.

The Bulldogs put 11 shots on goal, launched four direct kicks and earned three corners. 

“The boys played with a lot of grit to take control of the game in the second half,” summed up Acheson. “Ada played with more energy in the second half, and made better decisions with the ball.

“It was a great team win,” he added.

The Bulldogs (0-3 NCOSA) host tough league foe Upper Sandusky (5-5, 2-1 NCOSA) in the nightcap of a girls/boys doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.