Team sets new single season Bulldog record
By Cort Reynolds
ADA – Playing at home, the Ada High School girls soccer team built a lead, then held off a late charge by Hardin County rival Kenton to win a chippy 2-1 battle. The October 5 match was the final home game of the regular season at War Memorial Stadium.
The hard-fought win extended the Ada girls program record for wins in a single season to 10. The Bulldogs improved to 10-6 with the impressive victory.
Kenton fell to 5-9-1 after the defeat.
“Ten wins was the goal this season, and with a young team (we knew) it would take some work,” said Ada head coach Doug Dewese. “We made it there, and we did it in the regular season.
“We continue to set new marks for the program with wins, and we are seeming to find our stride coming into tournament season. If we can stay consistent, I think we give any team a tough time,” he added.
Ada got off a few good shots and controlled possession early, but was unable to score. Then at the 26:39 mark, the pressuring Bulldog attack broke through.
Kenton keeper Ruby Styer dove on a hard rolling shot struck by senior Karley Wagner, but it squirted out of her grasp near the goal.
Bulldog Kenley Poling opportunistically pounced on the loose ball and booted it into the net from very short range to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Kenton fired a good corner kick at the 24:23 mark which Ada keeper Emily Gibson saved nicely.
With 19 minutes left, a Wildcat shot clanged off left the football upright.
A long Ada drive went wide right at the 13:57 juncture. An equally long Wildcat shot 87 seconds later sailed left of the goal. Action picked up late in the half.
The Wildcats put a shot on goal with 3:22 left in the half that Gibson saved. Kenton was issued a yellow card for tripping with a minute to go. Styer saved a shot on goal at the 45-second mark. Ada got off a long, curling shot with 23 ticks left that was saved to keep the score 1-0 at intermission.
Kenton came out more aggressive offensively in the second half. Wagner won a physical 50-50 ball near the left sideline, turned and hooked a 24-yard left side shot that curved toward the far post before Styer grabbed it.
Ada freshman Avary Acheson then played a fine ball ahead to Poling along the left side. Poling left-footed a fine cross into the middle to freshman Rose Baxter.
Baxter then patiently set up and drilled a left-footed shot from 16 yards out to the right of a diving Styer to give Ada a 2-0 lead with 34:48 remaining.
Freshman Emily Shanks made a nice long throw-in to the box with 29:02 left. But Styer authored a nice diving save to turn back an Ada shot amid a scrum in front of the net.
Bulldog Alex Gibson launched a corner kick too far with 28:14 left.
With 26:40 to go, Poling made a fine anticipatory steal along the right side and lifted a one-on-one shot that curled past Styer and appeared headed for the netting. However, the shot hit the far left post and bounced away.
Bulldog Emma Lambdin was in position for the rebound shot, but hit it wide left.
Wagner was sidelined briefly with an injured nose after a collision, but gamely came back to help the Bulldog cause.
Gibson saved a Wildcat shot at the 9:55 mark. Kenton shot wide 50 seconds later as they upped their attack.
With 7:46 left, the visitors finally broke through. Senior Kinzie Sprang lifted a free kick from 27 yards out over an Ada wall and the outstretched arms of Gibson into the upper left corner to cut the lead to 2-1.
The powerful Baxter rifled a shot from 20 yards out from the left side of the end zone, but Styer smothered it well with 5:01 to go.
A Kenton corner kick with 3:36 left came up short. A very long, high right side Wildcat drive was caught by Gibson with 1:56 left.
Wildcat freshman Ellie Minter put a good shot on goal with 63 seconds left, but Gibson made a nice stop.
Ada was called for a handball on the sideline near midfield with 11 ticks to go. Kenton hustled to get off one last shot potential tying shot, but the Bulldog defense prevented it to preserve the win.
“I am so proud of the entire team effort,” said Dewese. “Kenley and Karley were absolute forces on the field in a very physical battle.
“We very easily could have folded under Kenton’s very physical attacks and play, but we kept our heads and finished out what I think is our first win against Kenton in program history,” he noted.
Dewese reported that Wagner was fine after the game, just bloodied. Spunky and speedy Ada freshman Mady Frewalt was also downed for a while late in the first half after a collision.
Ada out-shot the Wildcats, 13-10. The Bulldogs earned three corner kicks to one by Kenton.
Freshman Emily Gibson made 13 saves in goal for Ada. Styer was credited with eight saves in goal for Kenton.
“We gave Kenton a few too many chances in the last 15 minutes, but that is what comes with a younger roster,” said Dewese. “Luckily, some of our upperclassmen like Alex Gibson and Reese Jordan kept our back line solid to help secure the win.”
The game was played on “Kickin’ It For Cancer Night” as Ada wore special black and pink jerseys. A total of $565 was raised for the Not by Choice Outreach in Kenton.
Ada plays at tough Putnam County League foe Miller City (9-3-2) in the regular season finale Thursday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.
