New program record for wins with 13

By Cort Reynolds / Photos by Aftan Dewese

ADA__The Ada High School girls soccer team defeated visiting Kalida 2-0 in a competitive Div. V Northwest sectional final match on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The Bulldogs improved to 13-2-3 after the hard-fought win, setting a program high for wins in a season.

Spunky Kalida dropped to 3-9-5 with the season-ending defeat.

“Tournament time always brings a new level of competition,” said Ada head coach Doug Dewese. “I had warned the girls that Kalida wouldn't want their season to end, so we had to play hard. Kalida was definitely ready to play, and brought a good game. 

“We netted the win, but we need to be consistent all game long,” he observed. “We had some spells where we let them get aggressive and play their game rather than ours. Kalida likes to pack the box on defense, which we overcame in regular season with long shots over the top.

“We got one that way with the Emily Shanks placed kick, but they were much quicker tonight stepping to our mids to take that away,” Dewese continued. “We played good enough to win tonight, we have to be better to get farther though.” 

Ada advances to take on third seed Columbus Grove (11-3-2). CG stomped fifth seed Continental 5-0 Wednesday to advance to their district semifinal “Battle of The Bulldogs” rematch at Bluffton’s Steinmetz Field Monday, Oct. 26.

Intense Ada junior Emily Shanks netted the first goal off a high-placed kick in the first half. The Bulldogs led 1-0 at intermission.

An Ada shot was saved by the Kalida keeper, Sophia Fersch with 35:40 remaining. A good scoring opportunity was stopped by her 38 seconds later. A left shot Bulldog shot was cleared at the 32:15 mark.

A Bulldog direct kick with 21:32 left came up short. With 16:50 to go, an Ada right-side blast was stopped by a diving save from Fersch.

A long Ada direct kick was caught out of midair by the Wildcat keeper. Then a few minutes later, Ada scored off a long side throw-in. After a scrum in front of the net, Bulldog sophomore Aubry Jordan booted a shot into the left corner of the net off a Rose Baxter assist to make it 2-0 with 10:23 left.

“We do have a way to get hard-nosed in front of the net, and Aubry finished her opportunity to help seal the game up,” said Dewese. 

A long Kalida kick went wide right of the net at the 9:24 juncture. Kalida missed a shot to the open right side of the goal wide right with 8:56 left.

Ada blasted a left-side shot that Fersch booted away with a one-footed save. With 6:34 left, junior Baxter drilled a left-footed shot that hooked right on goal to the Kalida keeper for a save.

Bulldog Avary Acheson’s left corner kick was blocked in front of the net with 4:44 to go. Then Acheson’s right corner kick 24 seconds later came up short. Another Ada shot was blocked with 2:02 to go.

Ada senior Kenley Poling made a nice run up the right side and lofted a long shot that curled just wide left at the 1:12 mark.

Sophomore Shay Smith had a breakaway shot with 38 seconds left, but her blast was deflected by the outstretched arms of Fersch off the crossbar and then off the football goalpost out of play.

Junior keeper Emily Gibson made five saves in goal.

“We see Columbus Grove Monday, and I am sure they will want a revenge win after the regular season,” Dewese warned.  

Ada won at NWC co-champion Grove 4-3 in a wild shootout on Sept. 17. Grove’s Liv Mayberry scored four goals in their win over Continental Monday.