EQUALIZER … Aryah Dunning celebrates after scoring the game tying goal in the second half for Delta.
PHOTOS BY RACHEL NAGEL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DOUBLE OT DISTRICT FINAL … Delta’s Abbey Todd kicks the ball during the Panthers district final against state ranked Mansfield Christian.
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
METAMORA (October 23, 2025) – On a brisk, windy night, Delta battled the tenth-ranked Division V team in the state, Mansfield Christian, dead even for nearly 100 minutes.
However, in the second overtime, a hesitation in the back line led to the Flames’ Marlea Rader getting an open look at the net, and she lofted a crossing shot into the back of the net to give Mansfield Christian a 2-1 win in a Division V district championship game at Evergreen.
Playing against a gusting wind in the first half, the Panthers’ chances on the opposing end, much less at the net, were minimal.
While Delta got only one wide attempt at the net, Mansfield Christian controlled the ball on the Panther side of the field.
Ryllie Taylor made one save on Brooklyn Rider’s drive from the middle 13 minutes into the game, but the Flames, using the wind, got a score with 14:11 left in the half.
Reese Becthler got control of a loose ball and lofted a high-arching crossing shot into the high side of the net for a 1-0 lead. The Flames’ margin was inches from doubling in the closing seconds of the first.
After being awarded a free kick in the Panther zone, Rider hammered a shot with the tailing wind from the 30-yard line that careened off the crossbar as the clock hit zeroes to end the half.
Taylor came up with a stop on Rider early in the second half to keep it a one-goal game, and at the 24:31 mark, the Panthers found the equalizer.
Olivia Mohring, working up the left side toward the net, flipped a high crossing pass that Aryha Dunning corralled and launched a high shot into the upper half to bring Delta even.
The score remained the same the rest of the regulation, forcing overtime. Adrianna Dunning’s hooking drive four minutes into the 15-minute period had the goalie beat but sailed wide.
Becthler’s shot from the left five minutes later sailed high to keep the game knotted 1-1.
Taylor made two more saves against Becthler and Michelle Hope in the final minutes to send the game into a second overtime.
This time, the first Mansfield shot was on target. When a pair of Panther defenders seemed to freeze momentarily on a crossing pass, Rader had an open shot from the left of the net and made good with 13:29 on the clock to send the Flames to next week’s regional tournament.
Delta, who ends as the district runner-up, finishes with a record of 12-7-1.