Sunday, June 30, 2013
DAYTON, Ohio – A beautiful Sunday afternoon was the scene for the second meeting between the Lady Lions of Dayton and the Lady Silverbacks of Atlanta. Despite only a day to rest between games, both teams came ready to continue where they left off Friday evening.
In the first half the Lady Lions were patient and played their possession style ball. In the 18th minute a steal in the midfield by Emilie Fillion, to make it three against two, gave the Dutch Lions the upperhand. The pass was sent out to Juliana Libertin on the left who found Kathryn Dolesh across the field, a touch a little too far out allowed Atlanta to block the shot. Atlanta countered with an attempt of their own in the 22nd minute, Atlanta’s Kansas Bayly sent the ball over the Dayton defense to Savannah Jordan who made a great run but the attack ended with an offsides call. A yellow card in the 31’ on Atlanta’s Hastings gave Dayton an opportunity on the 20 yard line. Fillion rocketed the shot on target, but the Silverbacks keeper Jamie Simmons was able to get a finger on it to tip it over the goal. Despite numerous attempts at goal from both sides, great defending on both ends left the game scoreless at the half.
Atlanta came out strong and fast in the second half going on the attack immediately in the 45th minute but the shot by Lexi Hastings from 20 yards out flew over the crossbar. A serve in from the right side in the 54’ by Stacey Balaam had Dayton beat with Atlanta’s Jamie Pollack and Cherie Sayon both vying for the ball in the box, but Dayton’s defense stepped in and neither could put a head on it. Dayton countered in the 60th minute with a ball sent up from Abby Pearson to Fillion who slipped behind the Silverbacks defense but the shot rolled off her foot and was easily handled by the Atlanta keeper. Both coaches had winning on their mind when in the 71st minute, Dayton defender Abby Pearson was substituted out for forward Ashley Miltko. In the 73rd minute Atlanta made a substitution of their own taking out defender Kansas Bayly for midfielder Ryann Davies. Davies wasted no time and began to control the middle for the Lady Silverbacks serving the ball to her forwards for multiple chances, but the Lions defense held strong and no goals were allowed. Van Druenen pushed Dayton forward in the 90’ minute, but due to good defending from Atlanta, they were still unable to capitalize on any opportunities being created. The game ended scoreless with each team taking a point.
Coach van Druenen had this to say about the game “I think it was a game with two halves. Atlanta came with a specific plan. They wanted to defend as much as possible, compact as much as possible. They were hoping for that one chance that they didn’t really get because we were also defending strongly. It took us 45 minutes to know what to do, we came to the second half with a different game plan and I think we did better. The message is clear, we have a trip to Charlotte on Friday. Beat Charlotte and we are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. We tied today, but I am still happy that the points are there and we have first place.”
The Dayton Dutch Lion’s Womens’ team (4-1-2) hit the road for their next two matches, facing the Charlotte Lady Eagles (3-4-0) on July 5th and then Atlanta (3-3-2) in their home stadium on July 6th. You can see the Dayton Dutch Lions play at home again on Sunday, July 14 against VSI Tampa Bay FC (2-5-1)