Milan Girls Soccer Team Opens Season with a Rout

The Milan Big Reds girls’ soccer team opened the season on a high note, beating the Ypsilanti Phoenix 8-0. Milan’s defense allowed only two shots on goal all night.

“We started off really strong. We were up by two within ten minutes and four by the half, after that we mixed things up a bit,” said head coach Simon Evans.

Emily Harris started the scoring off for Milan early in the opening half, and the Big Reds never looked back. They rarely allowed Ypsilanti to go on offense, and did not allow keeper Erin Jinna to see a shot the entire half. Courtney Meyer finished the first half scoring for Milan with the first of her two goals on the night. Milan was up 4-0 at the break.

The second half started a bit slower for Milan, but it was still entirely on the offensive. Jinna was taken out of goal to see some time on the other side of the field, and coach Evans was using substitutes fairly frequently.

“It’s hard to maintain a real disciplined play when you’re up by six goals so we certainly had some breakdowns. We had twenty girls here today, so we made a lot of substitutions. I usually don’t make a lot of substitutions,” said Evans.

Jordan Herman started off the scoring for Milan in the second half. Jinna and Meyer followed with goals of their own. Milan’s eighth goal was scored in extra time.  MSHAA rules made that the final goal, as an eight goal difference mandates a mercy.

The play of the night was Milan’s sixth goal, scored by Jinna.  Running a set play off a well-placed corner kick, Jinna used her head and knocked the goal past the Phoenix keeper.

Milan opens Huron League play on Wednesday at home against Jefferson.