Dayton – The Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women’s team (3-0-0) welcomed the Carolina Elite Cobras (0-2-1) to DOC Stadium on Saturday evening. The game was delayed twice as storms passed through the area. Once underway the Lady Lions had the majority of possession and chances but did not score until the second half.
The first half saw Dayton with more possession, the game was played mostly in Carolina’s half. The Cobras tried the long ball game with no success. In the twentieth minute, a slippery ball led to a poor pass by Dayton’s keeper, Haley Gribler. Carolina pounced, but Gribler made a one-handed grab for the save. Dayton got their first chance in the twenty seventh minute. Ode Fulutudilu crossed the ball but Dadson slid and missed the opportunity. The Lady Lions tried again in the thirty second minute. Fulutudilu flicked the ball to Florence Dadson, who then bent a shot towards goal, but the Carolina keeper Maylyn Parsons dove for the save. Despite creating seven corner kick opportunities, and taking six shots, Dayton couldn’t finish and the half ended scoreless.
The second half saw Dayton pass and press. Carolina got the first chance however. Savannah McCaskill dribbled down the right in the fifty-second minute, past two Dayton defenders and shot. The ball flew left of goal. Dayton had the ball in Carolina’s final third numerous times but were only able to get a few shots off. The Lady Lions gained momentum in the sixty-eighth minute. Dadson turned and shot hard, but the ball went wide. Dadson received a ball in the seventy-second minute from Michele Christy, and shot, but the ball flew high. The seventy-eighth minute saw the first goal of the game when Josee Stiever sent the ball from the left corner. Carolina’s keeper could not hold onto it and the ball spun off her hands and into the back right corner to put the Lions on top. The Cobras pressured the Lions and the Dayton defense along with keeper Ayanna Parker, to no avail. The Dayton Dutch Lions women won the game against the Carolina Elite Cobras by a score of 1-0.
Coach Macleod had this to say about the game: “We had plenty of ball possession, some good chances in the first half, but we weren’t able to capitalize. Too many went over the crossbar. I’m happy we were able to move the ball around and get it into the attacking third. We have to do a better job of creating and manufacturing shots from the top of the box.”
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women play at home at DOC Stadium in West Carrollton on Saturday, June 6th at 5pm against the Atlanta Silverbacks. They play at home again Saturday, June 20 against the Charlotte Lady Eagles at 5pm.