To The Final: Hornets Overcome Cold Weather, Hot Keeper

The Saline varsity girls’ soccer team overcame cold, wet temperatures and a red-hot goalie in a 4-0 win over Monroe Thursday at Skyline. Saline advances to the district final against Ann Arbor Huron at noon Saturday, also at Skyline. The River Rats defeated Pioneer in a game that went to a shootout Thursday evening.

The Hornets owned the field, Thursday night, but couldn’t the territorial advantage into a big lead.

Amada Zylstra opened scoring with 28:35 to play in the first half. The play started when Brittany Brown’s corner kick turned into trouble for the Trojans in front of their net. The ball bounced around before finding its way out to Zylstra, whose 20-yard boot found its way through the scramble in the box and went into the top corner.

The game started at 8:15 and as it became cooler, windier and darker, the rain fell harder.

The Trojans, who failed to register a single shot on goal, appeared content to keep everyone back on defense and hold the Saline to a 1-0 advantage. Despite being on the attack the entire half, Saline was unable to build on its lead before the break.

Co-captain Katie Crysler said the Hornets weren’t nervous.

“But I think we were a little frustrated. We weren’t getting some of the shots that we wanted to get,” Crysler said.

In the second half, the Hornets began to wear down the Trojans and get the shots they wanted. But Trojan goalie Amy Smith made stop after stop.

“She had a phenomenal game and kept them in the game,” said Saline coach Dana Restrick.

Even with the slimmest of leads, Restrick wasn’t worried.

“I felt like we were in control the whole game. They put 11 in the box and didn’t put much into attack going the other way,” Restrick said.

That said, there was a sigh of relief when, with 12:20 to play, Abbey Sovitch swept the ball past the defender in front of her and beyond Smith from 10 yards out for a 2-0 lead.

Less than four minutes later, Stacey Stevens, Taylor Mulder and Caitlin Ellis combined for a pretty passing play that ended when Ellis tapped the ball past the Trojan keeper.

Sarmila Samaroo finished the scoring when a shot from the right side eluded everyone and wound up on Samaroo’s foot. She kicked into the mostly-open net to seal the victory.

The Hornets will look for their second consecutive district championship Saturday. Earlier this season, Saline toughed out a 1-0 victory over the River Rats.

Restrick said she expected another tough local rivalry game.

“I don’t think we should go into it with anything but confidence. If we come out hard, I like our chances. But Huron is a great team and they definitely proved they can step it up in the playoffs,” Restrick said.