By Cort Reynolds
The Ada girls soccer team kicked off their 2021 season at Tiffin Columbian with a dominating 7-0 win amid a record-setting performance Saturday.
Speedy Bulldog sophomore Olivia Burkhart poured in a school single-game record six goals in her varsity debut to spearhead the win.
"Olivia had a top-drawer performance," said second-year Ada head coach A.J. Wahlie.
"She moved well and stayed active on the backline, and our center-midfielders did a good job of finding her open in the seams.
"You love to see that type of success, and hope that she can continue it," he added.
Burkhart netted four first-half goals as Ada built a 4-0 lead at intermission. She tallied the fifth goal in half two before sophomore teammate Ella Marshall found the back of the net to make it 6-0.
Burkhart added one final score to break the previous team single-game record of five goals set by Katie Butterfield.
Ada got off 25 shots, 14 on goal. The defense allowed just two shots by TC, with the lone attempt on goal coming in the final seconds.
Senior goalkeeper Olivia Green saved a breakaway at the very end to preserve the shutout. "It was a pretty big-time save," said Wahlie.
"I am proud of our performance," he noted. "We did a lot of things well and played well for 79 of the 80 minutes. We only gave up one shot on goal, so we were better defensively and in possession."
The Lady Bulldog kickers host Coldwater (1-0) Thursday, August 26 at 6 p.m. in the first varsity soccer match on the new artificial surface.
"Coldwater is pretty solid, they beat us last year so our goal is to avenge that loss," said Wahlie.
The Ada girls (1-0) then entertain Marion Harding Saturday, August 28 at 1 p.m.
