Sports
Offense Struggles as Hornets' Soccer Season Ends
The season was still a success with the first district title in five years.
The Saline Hornets soccer team saw its offense come to life a little too late as the team fell in Regional play 2-1 to Ann Arbor Pioneer at Dearborn Edsel Ford Wednesday night. Both teams battled hard all game through an oppressive heat.
The Hornets came out flat in the first half, failing to assert themselves offensively as is their style. Instead, keeper Hayley Reynolds kept Saline in the game with three big saves, including back-to-back stops on a free kick and its rebound at 23:05. The Hornets started pushing back with around 4:30 left in the half, taking several quality runs at the net before the horn. Neither team was able to open the scoring and the game went into the break tied 0-0.
“Hayley’s a great goalkeeper. She’s very confident in the box. We knew they were dangerous on corners; she robbed them on two, at least. Hayley really, really did an outstanding job today,” said head coach Dana Restrick.
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The second half started much the same as the first, despite a stirring speech by Coach Restrick during the intermission. The Hornets found themselves in front of an offensive onslaught by Pioneer, and even with another big save by Reynolds five minutes into the half, Ann Arbor’s Emily Turner scored the first goal of the day at 33:50. Caitlin Ellis tried to answer for Saline less than a minute later, but sent the open shot over the crossbar. Megan Schechtman made it 2-0 in favor of the Pioneers at 21:29. Saline’s offense started to retake control with almost five minutes left in the game. Ellis scored Saline’s only goal at 4:03, and the Hornets attacked non-stop until the final horn, but it was too little, too late. Ann Arbor Pioneer advanced with a 2-1 win.
“We just did not have a good game today, unfortunately. We definitely came out flat and continued to play flat the whole first half. I think, once they scored in the second half, we started playing. It shouldn’t take a goal, but today it did. It’s really tough; I know they are kicking themselves for it,” said Restrick.