September 26, 2016

Delta Women Win Sixth Straight

Three wins in four days puts Pioneers at 8-2 on season

Box Score

UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI – Playing three games in four days, the Delta College women's soccer team made a statement – a LOUD statement – in sweeping all three contests as they defeated Jackson, SVSU Club and Alma College JV in consecutive games.  The wins up their record to 8-2 on the season while they also extended their current winning streak to six consecutive games. 

"We were worried about fatigue," said head coach Paul Stenglein.   "But I am so proud of the girls.  Our attacking style is more creative each game and our defensive pressure is getting better as well."

The defensive pressure took a hit early as Alma scored a goal in the first minute of play and the score remained in favor of the Scots through the first twenty minutes.  In the 23rd minute, however, Delta was able to pull even as Paige Rendshaw collected a rebound off an Alma defender and beat the keeper with a low controlled shot.

Seven minutes later, Leah Johnson drove 70 yards between two defenders before placing a shot past the Alma College keeper on the near post to give DC a 2-1 lead.  Within minutes, Gabrielle Kingsbury received a pass from Noelle Champagne that was slotted across the top of the 18- yard box.  After cutting back on two defenders, Kingsbury drove a shot past the keeper for a decisive third goal for Delta.
 

Paige added her second goal of the game before halftime, giving the Pioneers a 4-1 advantage which was a comfortable enough lead for the Pioneers to reduce the amount of unneeded running thus eliminating some of the defensive pressure.

The depth of the Delta bench continued to cause problems for Alma, however, as fresh players were continually recycled in.  Fatigue would not allow Alma to stay with Delta, and the possessive play of Delta caused Alma to have to chase.  Just 2 minutes into the second half, Nicole Hill would make a centering pass to Gillian Carroll who touched the ball to Maddison Jewell who drove a low shot into the corner of the goal.
 

Within the next minute, Jewell would return the favor as she found Carroll at the top of the box who drove a hard shot past the keeper to the lower corner.  From there, the Pioneers would settle into a possession game, and move players into new positions to create depth at all the field positions.  In the midst of this personnel evaluation, Delta continued to apply offensive pressure.

In the 61st minute, Kaitlyn Begley would take on numerous defenders and break through the back line, and beat the keeper to score with an upper far post shot.  Cailin King would end the scoring for Delta when she collected a rebounded ball off a defender and put a controlled shot into the corner of the goal.  
 

"We played Alma twice last year and both games ended in a 1-1 tie," said Stenglein.  "We were ready for another hard fought game and they came out strong but we were able to overcome the early part of the match and win going away."

Delta now takes their 8-2-0 record on the road to play at nationally ranked #18 Schoolcraft on Saturday October 1st.  The Ocelots are currently in first place in the MCCAA.