DC Clobbers Lake Michigan

University Center, MI – The Lady Pioneer soccer team won their second straight contest via a shutout on Saturday, as they defeated the visiting Redhawks of Lake Michigan College by a score of 8-0.  The win ups the DC record to 4-2 on the season and 3-2 in conference play while Lake Michigan drops to 0-4 in the MCCAA and 0-5 overall. 

Delta continued to use its offensive ball pressure on every possession to wear down Lake Michigan who was playing with a depleted roster.   The pressure paid off as Gillian Carroll sent in a lofted ball to Chelsea Temple who beat the keeper at the far post in the 11^th minute to put DC up, 1-0. 

Within 5 minutes, Carroll would get another assist five minutes later as she hit Nicole Hill with a slotted pass before Hill beat the Lake Michigan keeper with a low shot that found the back of the net and make the score 2-0 in favor of the home team. 

Less than two minutes later, Aleisha Jones crossed a ball to the far post where Cailin King one touched the ball into the far post corner of the goal to make it 3-0.  Paige Renshaw would finish the scoring for Delta in the first half when she finished separate one-on-one breakaways with the Redhawk keeper to make it 5-0.  Gabby Kingsbury and Kaitlyn Begley both sent perfectly slotted balls through to Renshaw to allow her to outrun the Lake Michigan defense to create both scores.

"We are a well-coordinated team that used a disciplined approach to ball control and attacking that became too much for the Lake Michigan defense," said co-head coach Paul Stenglein.

Weather became a factor in the second half as a downpour plagued the field for the remainder of the contest.  Delta committed to use ball possession coupled with high compression defense to finish out the 45 minutes, though they would score three more times for an 8-0 final. 

"Once the rain hit and Lake Michigan began having injuries, we began pulling players to keep the contest from getting too far out of control," said Stenglein.  "Both teams finished with nine versus nine."  

Renshaw scored on an assist by Gabby Kingsburry, Aleisha Jones would score on an assist by Taylor Farrand and Gillian Carroll would finish the scoring for the day in the 75th minute when she collected a ball in the middle of the field and break through the Lake Michigan defense to beat the keeper with a well-placed ball to the corner.

"This was one of those situations where our depth as well as their improving skill level made a huge difference in the outcome of this game," said Stenglein.  

"I am so proud of the collective play of these girls today.   The girls are becoming more creative in the attacking third of the field, and their flank attacking is really starting to improve.  Defensively as a team, we committed to work hard to shut down our opponents, and these past two games have been a great reflection of that."  

Both Chelsea Temple and Nicole Hill picked up their first collegiate goals in the win while Paige Renshaw picked up a hat trick with her three goal game. 

Delta plays next Saturday as they host MCCAA opponent Muskegon Community College.  Game time is 1:00PM.