October 1, 2016

Delta Battles, Falls to #18 Schoolcraft

Ocelots end Pioneers six game win streak

Box Score

Livonia, MI – The Delta College women's soccer team traveled to Livonia on Saturday to take on league leading and 18th ranked Schoolcraft Community College in a game that would go a long way in deciding the MCCAA champion.  After starting out slow, the Pioneers would continue to battle and put up a strong fight but would eventually fall, 5-3. 

"I was proud of these girls today; with the way they decided to play a full ninety minutes and get back in the game with great possession play and quality scoring opportunities," said co-head coach Paul Stenglein.  "We never gave up and kept playing with the expectation that we could score some goals."
Playing on Schoolcraft's brand new artificial turn stadium, Delta gained valuable experience as they will be playing in the post-season on just such a surface.  With a faster field, the Pioneers needed to adjust and both teams did a nice job of possessing the ball during the first 20 minutes.  The Ocelots, however, would score four goals on five shots and three transition breakaway scores.  
 

Delta would respond before halftime when Katie Veit received a through ball pass from Aleisha Jones to beat the keeper on a one-on-one shot to go in to the half down 4-1.   The Pioneers regrouped at halftime and committed to get back in the game and outplay their opponent in the second half.  

At the ten-minute mark of the second half, Paide Rendshaw received a through ball from Nicole Hill, which she then drove in and beat the keeper into the corner to cut the Schoolcraft lead in half at 4-2.  The home team quickly responded, however when another transition through ball was sent to a Schoolcraft forward that beat DC keeper Ali Bourcier for a 5-2 lead.
 

Delta scored with nine minute left when Aleisha Jones slotted a ball through to Maddison Jewell who sent a shot past the keeper into the corner of the goal.  But that was it for the scoring and the Pioneers fell to 8-3-2 on the season and 5-3 in the conference.  Schoolcraft, meanwhile remains in first place in the MCCAA with a 7-0 record. 

"This was a physical match-up, that was a tremendous learning experience for us," said Stenglein.  "We needed to play on artificial turf before we get to the regional tournament and we needed to play against a competitive team.  Playing Schoolcraft on their new turf field certainly accomplished both of those critical objectives."
 

"This game will give us a great foundation of being mentally tough in our tough post season games in New York."

Delta travels to Muskegon for another conference match-up on Sunday October 9th.