TWO GOAL NIGHT … Senior Adrianna Dunning (above) had two goals for Delta, including one in the opening three minutes, in the Panthers’ 3-1 win over Liberty Center.
PHOTOS BY RACHEL NAGEL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
CLUTCH PLAY … Delta’s Josephine Maurer (above) had an assist and added a goal with 12 minutes left in the match.
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
METAMORA (October 20, 2025) – Not even three minutes into the game, Adrianna Dunning put Delta on the scoreboard, and the Panthers never looked back, as Delta knocked off second-seeded Liberty Center, 3-1 in a Division V district semifinal at Evergreen.
“Really important, right?” Delta coach Paige Triana said of the quick start. “I definitely felt like we had the momentum after that.
“Before that, we couldn’t find a pass, we couldn’t string passes, then Adrianna had a big senior moment, right? That definitely helped us, getting some confidence going forward.”
McKenzie Kruger popped a pass upfield that Dunning chased down, flew in on Tiger goalkeep Maddie Sattler, and knocked a shot into the right side of the net with 37:31 on the clock to give Delta an early lead.
The Tigers had a pair of chances to tie the match when Calleigh Stoner swooped down the right sideline and turned the corner against a Panther defender. However, both times, Stoner’s crossing shot went wide right to keep the Tigers scoreless.
With 14:17 left in the half, Delta doubled the lead. Myah Dalton-Keener, working the right side, flipped a pass in the middle that Josie Maurer hammered into the top half, making it 2-0.
Meanwhile, Ryllie Taylor was basically looking for work after those two early Tiger chances, as she only faced one shot the rest of the half, which she made an easy save on.
Olivia Mohring’s corner was harnessed by Sattler four minutes into the second, then Taylor held off Kinzly Hollenbaugh twice to keep the Tigers off the board.
Maurer got the game clincher at the 12-minute mark on a run down the left side of the net, scoring on the short side to bump the Panther margin to 3-0.
“I’m super proud of her,” Triana expressed of Maurer. “In a big moment, she put the ball in the back of the net. I’m just really, really proud of her. Proud of Adrianna being that senior captain, leader for us. All the girls played well.”
Brookelynn Miller’s goal with just 58 seconds to go in the match kept Liberty Center from being shut out.
Delta’s opponent in the district final on Thursday night back at Evergreen, will be Mansfield Christian (16-2-1), who was a 4-3 overtime winner over Mt. Blanchard Riverdale.
Delta (12-6-1) – Goals: Adrianna Dunning 2, Josie Maurer; Assists: McKenzie Kruger, Josie Maurer
Liberty Center (10-5-3) – Goal: Brookelynn Miller