Soccer: Green Chargers blank Chemics

by Cory Butzin

The Midland Dow junior varsity green team started quickly and didn’t stop, scoring four first half goals, led by Becca Mills who finished with three goals and an assist to defeat cross-town rival Midland 7-0 Thursday at Dow High.

“We moved the ball really well through the midfield,” said Dow coach Gary Strickler. “We attacked the goal and got a lot of shots.”

The Chargers took the opening possession and drove deep into Chemic territory, setting the tempo and controlling the ball early. At 31:38 Nicole Stortini took a pass from Mills and buried it in the back of the net to give Dow the early 1-0 lead.

“It’s hard that they got that goal right away…” said Midland coach Stacy Campbell. “(We) kind of went out there a little slow, I don’t think they were expecting that hard play right at the beginning.”

A minute and a half later Laura Goslin scored to extend the Chargers’ lead 2-0.

A scary moment occurred midway through the first half with Midland threatening deep in Charger territory. In a scramble on an offensive rush by the Chemics, Lauren Keyser and Sarah Arent collided. The game was stopped for several minutes as both players were tended to. Arent was carted off the field, while Keyser was able to walk off under her own power and would later return to action.

The game stoppage was not enough to stop Dow as Mills scored twice in seven minutes to give the Chargers a 4-0 lead going into the half.

At first it seemed like Dow was going to take up where it left off when Angela Ainaniampong scored early in the second half, and Mills and Stortini each scored several minutes later to give the Chargers an insurmountable 7-0 lead.

But that’s when the Chemics seemed to come to life. Midland began to control the ball and generated several quality scoring chances.

“We just went over a few things, and opened their eyes about what they needed to work on,” Campbell said. “We told them to be aggressive, and I think they did.”

That aggressiveness saw Midland threaten, but it didn’t see them score as Dow held on to preserve the shutout.

The Chargers improved to 6-0 with the win. They return to action Wednesday when they host Bay City Western. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The Chemics (1-3-1) return to action Monday when they travel to take on the Wolves of Bay City Central. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.