By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School boys soccer team kicked off its 2023 campaign under the lights with a dominant 5-0 win over non-conference foe Lima Temple Christian Friday night, August 11, at War Memorial Stadium.
Ada led 3-0 at the half, and the Bulldogs tacked on two late goals to put the somewhat chippy contest well out of reach.
“It was a very physical game but I was proud of the way the boys held their composure and stayed positive,” said Ada 10th-year head coach Jason Okuly.
Ada scored first with 23:35 left in the opening half and was never threatened.
Attacking junior Logan Jolliff took a long feed from Jude Griffin, and on one bounce timed his kick well to float a shot to the right corner of the net over the straying Pioneer keeper.
A little over five minutes later, the speedy Jolliff received a very good crossing pass from Nathan Williams and left-footed a shot into the net for a 2-0 lead at the 18:14 mark.
Ada senior Carson Gossard had a good scoring opportunity with 17:30 left. Gossard then passed to Gabe Blankenship, who ripped a goal past the diving LTC keeper for a 3-0 bulge at the 15:13 juncture.
CONTINUES
The Pioneer keeper recovered to save a Jolliff shot from a Gossard feed 20 seconds later. A Gossard header with 8:30 to go was saved by the goalie.
A Pioneer header sailed wide with 6:30 left in the half. Ada keeper Jacob Rush then made a sliding save on a long through ball at the 4:18 mark.
Gossard booted a shot over the goal with 2:55 left in the half. Williams left-footed a shot just wide at the 1:50 mark.
A Pioneer corner came up empty 72 seconds before intermission.
Jolliff had a breakaway attempt thwarted 98 seconds into the second half by the Pioneer keeper. Rush made a save off a close-in header from about three yards out at the 34:12 juncture.
The freshman keeper then made a nice diving save off a left-footed shot from about 11 yards out with 30:39 remaining.
A long through ball to Jolliff was saved at the 25-minute mark. Forty-nine seconds later his shot was saved by the Pioneer goalie.
Rush stymied an LTC breakaway with 23:52 left to play. A nice run and shot by Jolliff was saved despite a bobble with 18:14 to go.
Ada was whistled for its second yellow card of the second half with 10:04 to go. Williams hooked a lefty shot just wide with 8:11 left.
Speedy Ada freshman Andrew Allen then drew a foul inside the box to draw a penalty. He booted home the PK into the lower left corner of the net with 5:03 left to play to provide a 4-0 lead.
At the 2:38 mark, Allen ripped a right side shot from 14 yards out through the hands of the substitute Pioneer keeper for a 5-0 cushion.
Jolliff just missed netting his third goal when his left side run and shot sailed wide with just six seconds remaining.
Jolliff and Allen each netted two goals. Blankenship tallied one goal. Griffin, Williams and Gossard each doled out one assist.
Rush made seven saves in his goalkeeper debut as the defense posted a shutout.
The Bulldogs resume play Wednesday, August 16 at Bath. Ada then visits Tiffin Columbian August 19.
