Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women’s Team Open WPSL Season With Win
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women’s side opened up the 2016 WPSL season with a 4-2 victory versus Fire and Ice SC at DOC Stadium. Kailey Utley put Fire and Ice on top in the opening minutes but Dayton was able to climb back to get the win at home as the Dutch Lions head on the road to face Columbus Eagles at Otterbein Memorial Stadium on June 4th.
WPSL Soccer News: The Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women’s team welcomed Fire and Ice SC to DOC Stadium on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Excitement was high as the Dayton women played their first game in the Women’s Premier Soccer League.
Dayton was on the defensive as the game began. The Fire and Ice attacked right from the whistle and in the second minute a missed pass back to the Dayton keeper led to a chance by the Fire and Ice but the post saved the Dayton women from a goal.
Fire and Ice continued their pressure and in the third minute a stolen ball in the midfield led to their second chance on goal. Kailey Utley did not miss and having beaten the Dayton defense easily placed the ball in the Dayton net for the 1-0 lead.
The Dayton women began to find their rhythm and as they pushed forward Rose Lavelle found her opportunity. A missed pass by the Fire and Ice back to their defense gave Lavelle all she needed and she fired off a shot to the far right corner, over the keeper, tying the game 1-1.
Dayton was not finished and took control of the first half. Good ball movement and control by Dayton’s Bayley Feist put the Lady Lions in the final third again. Meghan Blank picked up the ball on the right and sent the ball across the box finding Danielle Rotheram, who in the twenty third minute turned quickly and shot past the keeper to put Dayton in the lead by one. 2-1.
The Lady Lions continued to dominate with the Fire and Ice getting few chances. In the thirty fifth minute Dayton struck again and Rotheram put a ball up for Alexis Kiehl. The header floated into the goal.
The first half ended Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women in the lead over Fire and Ice SC 3-1.
The starting lineups were back in for the start of the second half. The Fire and Ice applied pressure and saw the Dayton final third in the fifty third minute when Kelsey Dinges sent one into the post.
Dayton countered with a ball up to Rose Lavelle who broke through until a Fire and Ice midfielder took her down, and earned the only yellow of the game.
Play went end to end as Dayton looked to seal the game and the Fire and Ice tried to inch closer.
Fire and Ice found their stride in the seventy ninth minute when Rachel Tejada beat the Dayton defense and slotted a ball into the net to bring them within two.
It was not enough however as the final whistle blew and the score read Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women 4 and Fire and Ice SC 2.
“Obviously not the ideal start losing the early goal. Again we’ve got a very good squad in here but we haven’t gotten a lot of practice time. So, there’s going to be the occasional error,” said Dayton Women’s Coach Ian Richardson. “But fantastic from the girls, rebounded great, reacted as they should, their quality showing through. Three to one at half time was comfortable. I would have liked to have seen us build on that a little bit more and scored a few more today. And that goal at the end, we don’t want to get scored on. Again, I think that will come with practice and with games. But, objective achieved, three points, first home game, but plenty to improve upon.”
The Dayton Dutch Lions FC Women (1-0-0) resume play against the Columbus Eagles (0-0-0) at Otterbein Memorial Stadium on Saturday, June 4th at 7:00pm EDT. Dayton takes on FC Pride at Lawrence Soccer Complex on Sunday, June 5th at 7:00pm EDT. They return home to DOC Stadium on Saturday, June 11 at 7pm EDT.
Source/Photo Credit: Dayton Dutch Lions FC
