Player their second game today vs Lady Victory FC
Dayton Dutch Lions FC proved to be rather inhospitable hosts to the visiting St. Louis Lions in Women’s Premier Soccer League play on Saturday evening. Dayton won by a convincing 6-0 margin. The scoreline nearly replicated the 6-1 result the Dutch Lions posted on the road against St. Louis one week ago.
“We started slow,” said Dayton Head Coach Bradley Schluter. “Having already played this team, I think we knew what to expect. After the first goal we settled in. We created high quality chances in the second half.”
The first goal came in the 5th minute. Laney Huber sent a cross from the right flank to the front of the net. The ball deflected off a St. Louis defender and into goal. The only goal scored by the Lions in the first half came in the 47th minute. A through ball by Anna Sweeney sent Marcella Cash into the half space behind the St. Louis back line. Cash blistered a strike past the St. Louis goalkeeper.
Nicoletta Anuci restarted the scoring parade two minutes after halftime intermission. A ball played across the face of goal found Anuci’s feet at the far post. Nicoletta knocked it in from close range. Just six minutes later, Lena Jenssen tallied a goal. Jenssen slid onto the end of a ball into the box and got just enough foot on it to deflect it by the goalkeeper.
Another own-goal by St. Louis added to the Dutch Lions FC lead in the 83rd minute. Hayley Jakovich sent a long entry into the box that had the St. Louis defender facing her own goal. An attempted clearance resulted in a goal for Dayton. Dayton capped off the scoring with one minute left on the clock. Grace Bahr delivered a lovely ball into the box from midfield. Huber ran onto the end of it and put it away.
“This was another step forward,” said Schluter. “We’ve been getting better each of the last 5 games, better movement and creating better chances.”
The Lions kept some gas in the tank for tomorrow’s contest against Lady Victory FC. Dayton rotated players, including three call-ups from the Ohio Valley Premier League side. Manu Philipe, Brandi Greenlee, and Heidi Orloff each contributed significant minutes against St. Louis.
“It was great to be able to rotate players with a game tomorrow,” said Schluter. “The three OVPL players did well and didn’t look out of place. They took instruction, gave energy, and were fighting for a spot.”