Dreadnaughts Barrage Too Much for Hornets

The Dexter Dreadnaughts girls’ water polo team defeated the Saline Hornets 8-4 Wednesday night. The Dreadnaught offense hammered Saline’s defense early and Hailey Sheats made stop after stop to keep Dexter ahead all night.

“Hailey’s really picking up her focus. She’s a hard worker when she’s focused. She pushed herself harder this week, and she’s on top of her game, which is big,” said Dexter head coach Brian Semple.

The Dreadnaughts struck early and often, scoring four goals in the opening quarter of play, three before Saline got on the board. Kourtney Sattler opened the scoring, followed by Molly Keenan and Nicole Minzey. Saline’s Bailey Workman put the Hornets on the board with 0:21 left in the first period, but Keenan responded 14 seconds later. Jen Himle had the only tally of the second period, and Dexter went into halftime up 5-1.

“I don’t think we ever developed offensively at all and our defense killed us; we didn’t take away ball-side drives, we didn’t front. That’s the whole game, right there. I guarantee if we ever have a team score more than five goals on us, we’re going to lose it. That’s how it goes,” said Saline coach Mary Chatigny.

Minzey opened the second half with her second of three goals with 5:52 left in the third. Kailey Kermath scored twenty seconds later for Saline, but Minzey struck again with just under three minutes left. Saline’s Karleen Koskinen started the fourth period with a goal, but the Hornets were unable to keep Dexter off the board.  Marne Little put the last tally on the board for the Dreadnaughts; Workman wrapped up Saline’s scoring with 3:09 left, pulling within 4 but getting no closer.

“I think the biggest thing, for both offense and defense, was to be more active.  The first time we played [Saline], there were a lot of girls sitting around.  By moving around and working, we were able to make that extra pass and get the open shooter,” said Semple.

Dexter’s junior varsity won the early game 13-6.  Saline will participate in the Grand Ledge Invite Saturday, April 30 while Dexter travels to Ann Arbor for the Huron Invite.