The Wayland girls’ v
arsity soccer team improved its overall season record to 10-6 with a 3-2 overtime victory over Forest Hills Eastern Saturday morning.
Coach Ben Sleeman said the game started with the Hawks dominating possession and chances, but the Wildcats were able to keep them from scoring and eventually found their way in the game toward the end of the half.
The second half proved to be where all the action was, however, and the Wildcats wasted little time, as senior Brinley Nieuwenhuis, played a nifty little back-heel pass to her running mate, Amanda Brown, whose shot easily beat the keeper to open the scoring.
Next, it was the Hawks’ turn to get on the scoreboard and they chased down a long through ball and confidently placed the ball into the upper netting to tie the score.
Mckenna Bruin scored again on an assist from fellow sophomore Amanda Brown to push her team back into the lead.
“Brown played a nice free kick into Bruin’s feet and, after letting it bounce once, she put her laces through it for a magnificent goal,” commented Sleeman.
Again though, the Hawks wasted little time in getting back in the game as they capitalized on another through ball and tied the game three minutes later.
Both teams would have more chances to take the lead and win the game but each keeper and her defenders were able to keep the opposition from finding the winning goal, forcing two overtime sessions instead.
Halfway through the first overtime, it was Emily Gray to the rescue as she found herself on the back end of a corner kick and put her shot into the top of the goal to take the lead for the final time and give her team a much-needed victory.
The win improves the Wildcats to 10-6 (7-4 in the O-K Gold). The girls come back home Wednesday evening for their final conference game of the season as they play host to East Grand Rapids. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. with a special senior and parents ceremony at 5:45 p.m.
