By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School girls soccer team stayed undefeated with a 3-0 road win at Lima Senior in Spartan Stadium Saturday.
Ada improved to 3-0 with the victory.
Senior standout Ella Marshall led the offense with two goals and one assist, with one goal coming on a penalty kick.
Sophomore Jordyn Smith tallied the other Ada goal. Seniors Olivia Burkhart and Karmen Hall dished out the other Bulldog assists.
Senior keeper Katie Sizemore stopped five shots in goal for the Bulldog girls to help provide their second straight shutout.
The stingy Ada defense has given up just two goals in three games.
“This was a good contest for us,” said Ada second-year head coach Doug Dewese. “Lima Senior was a much-improved team from last year.”
The Bulldogs dominated the Spartans 9-0 last year after being up 7-0 at half.
“They played a solid and deep defensive line which made us work for our goals,” Dewese said. “We controlled the game, made the defensive stops we needed to and put the ball in the net when we could.
“Lima Senior has an outstanding keeper that was tough to beat,” Dewese added. “Between their keeper, a solid defense and an improved team I was happy with winning 3-0.
“Ella Marshall had a great game and was all over the field to create chances. It was good to see her take her game up a notch when needed to keep us working hard,” he added.
Ada visits local rival Allen East (1-0) in the Northwest Conference opener Monday, August 28 at 5 p.m.
“Allen East is always tough, and Ms. (Rilynn) Jones is a talented player,” said Dewese. “If you don’t go in planning on how to slow her down, it will come back to bite you.
“The problem is AE isn’t just Jones, they have other scorers so you can’t just focus on her,” he continued. “I know other teams focus on Ella Marshall when they play us. Luckily we have Olivia Burkhart, Lexi Poling, Kenley Poling and others who can put the ball in the net.
“Allen East is the same way,” he added. “They have enough other options that we just have to play solid all the way around.”
