By Cort Reynolds

MT. BLANCHARD __ The visiting Ada High School girls soccer team fell behind early and lost 7-0 at North Central Ohio Soccer Association power Riverdale on Thursday evening, September 12.

The Bulldogs dropped to 5-3 overall and 0-2 in NCOSA play with their third straight defeat.  

League co-leader Riverdale improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in NCOSA after the victory. They are tied with Liberty-Benton and Van Buren atop the tough league standings.

The Falcons have won back-to-back district championships by beating Bluffton in the final twice, both times on the road. 

Riverdale netted three goals in the first 20 minutes and was not threatened.

Physical Falcon senior standout Mariah Bonham scored two early goals, with Kennedy Phelps netting the other. 

Speedy sophomore Marissa Bonham, Brooke Durenberger and Shane Berger assisted on the first three scores. Durenberger added another goal as Riverdale led 4-0 at the half.

Chloe Powell, Phelps and Annaliese Woodruff each netted a goal after intermission to provide the final margin.

“This is what happens when a young team meets a very talented and experienced team,” said Ada head coach Doug Dewese. “Riverdale has seven senior starters, while we only have three total. I would be surprised if Riverdale doesn’t make a run at the NCOSA title and knock off Liberty-Benton.

“We managed to come alive in the second half, but it was too little too late,” he continued. “Great games by Emily Gibson in goal and Jillian Allison, who came out and played a very physical game when we needed it.

“Riverdale should make a deep tournament run this year with their talent and experience,” Dewese predicted.

Bulldog freshman keeper Emily Gibson saved 19 shots in goal.

“I was also proud of freshman Lynkin McDougle, who stepped into a center-back role for much of the game and really played well, including a non-keeper save in the second half,” Dewese pointed out. “We have a very tough road schedule that we are muddling through now.

“It doesn’t get any easier with a good Columbus Grove team Saturday,” he noted. “If we regroup and play well, we can have a very tough game with them, I believe.”

Ada completes a five-game road swing when it visits former Northwest Conference foe Columbus Grove (6-0-1) Saturday.  

The Bulldogs host Lima Senior on Monday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in the nightcap of a boys/girls varsity twinbill.