NWOAL DISTRICT SEMIFINAL … Grace Munger (left) controls the ball in front of Evergreen’s Kyla Risner. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Joe Blystone
METAMORA (October 24, 2023) – In the last game of the regular season, Delta and Evergreen scored goals in the first half like slot machines doling out jackpots in a 3-2 Viking win.
In the Division III district semi-finals, chances were few and far between and the only goal of the night came when Saige Walter knocked home a penalty kick after a handball as the second-seeded Panthers beat the upset-minded Vikings 1-0 in front of a large crowd at Evergreen, to move on to the district final match. That game will be played against Ottawa-Glandorf, who defeated Liberty Center 6-0 in the nightcap, on October 28th back at Evergreen.
“The first time we played they scored plenty of goals in the first half, we scored plenty in the first half,” said Panther coach Paige Triana.
“This time it was the battle of defenses, we just happened to get a chance to put the ball in the back of the net at the right time.”
“I don’t think there was ever a time the momentum shifted or there was a turning point, I do know that we worked on not being offsides like we were in the last game.”
“We felt like we had opportunity at the end of that game, and we got called offsides. That was something we worked on leading up to this game because we did not want that to happen again.”
“I think we did a good job adjusting against Evergreen’s offside trap and worked it in practice.”
Delta thought they had scored in the first two minutes of the contest, but Ella Demaline’s goal was disallowed as the Panthers were offside.
Demaline had another try four minutes later but goalie Hannah Wilson stuffed the attempt. The only goal of the game came with 18:02 left in the first half.
Trying to clear the ball from in front of the box in a strong westerly wind, a ball bouncing backward was struck by a Viking defender in the hand giving Walter a chance to put the Panthers up from the penalty spot.
Her kick got under a diving Wilson to give the Panthers the only goal they needed.
The fourth-seeded Vikings, playing without All-NWOAL performer Lydia Gleckler who was still in concussion protocol from an injury in the sectional final win over Miller City, never really got anything going offensively, as they only got seven shots off toward the net, four being saved by Ryllie Taylor.
“That’s always a bummer when a kid like that can’t play,” Triana said of Gleckler. “You want to play someone with their best foot forward, it’s sad, it’s sad for her being out with a concussion, especially in a game of this magnitude.”
Evergreen’s best chance came on Brooklyn Camacho’s high arcing shot that Taylor negotiated in the strong gusts, backed up and caught before going over her head into the net.
Delta had a couple of chances in the second half to extend their margin, but Wilson stopped Demaline blast from the middle, then batted down McKenzie Kruger’s attempt from the 25-yard line with eight minutes left.
“We had a couple of opportunities, but we just couldn’t put them away,” Triana explained. “We have to finish those opportunities against an Ottawa Glandorf. That will be a game where we if we can get our girls to do everything they can.” Wilson totaled 12 saves on the night.
Evergreen (15-2-2) – Saves: Hannah Wilson 12; Shots on Goal: 2
Delta (14-4-1) – Goal: Saige Walter; Shots on Goal: 13
Joe can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com