(Chelsea Update would like to thank Shawn Hayes for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea girls soccer teams traveled to Tecumseh last Thursday. Our JV team won 6-0 with our varsity team won 4-0 to open up our SEC league play.
Saturday, the varsity team hosted a tournament with visitors South Lyon East, New Boston Huron and Linden in attendance. Up first, Chelsea played South Lyon East and wound up tied 0-0 at the end of regulation. SLE then played New Boston Huron and won the game 3-0. The Bulldogs then played Linden and lost 4-0. Linden then played South Lyon East and won 2-1.
Chelsea finished their day playing New Boston Huron. After Jesse Jacobusse scored the first goal of the day for Chelsea, giving the Bulldogs the lead, a very late penalty decision was awarded. With the clock at zero, New Boston Huron scored the penalty to tie the game. New Boston Huron then played Linden, losing 3-1. Linden finished the day 3-0 and champions. South Lyon East was second with one win, one tie and one loss. Chelsea finished third with two ties and a loss and New Boston Huron finishing fourth with two losses and a tie.
Tuesday, Chelsea hosted Adrian, another SEC foe. The JV team started off strong scoring 7 goals in the first half. Led by freshman Hannah Wyatt’s hat-trick (3 goals) along with goals by sophomores Shelby Collier, Jordan Seitz, Mallory Downer and Anna Regis, the Bulldogs cruised to open the 7-0 lead.
The Maples of Adrian did not, however, capitulate and started the second half with new intensity and desire to compete. Limiting the Bulldogs chances early and defending strong the Maples fought hard to protect their net but the final goal eventually came when Caitlin Dusenbury, who attempted and nearly succeeded on a Bicycle Kick shot earlier in the game, shredded past a couple Maple Defenders and slotted a great shot past the GK.
Helena Schultz and Shelby Collier combined for the team’s shutout, each playing a half in goal.
The varsity team then took the field defeating the Maples, 5-0. With players missing with illness and injury the remaining Bulldogs came out with lots of energy against the Maples. Abby Bareis opened the scoring for the Bulldogs. Sidney Bailey, who also recorded an assist in the game, gave Chelsea a two-goal lead, but then Adrian began to show signs of life, creating a few counter attacks against the Bulldogs.
Chelsea’s defense was tested early on by a couple of talented Maple attacking players but held strong to keep the score at 2-0 going into the half. Chelsea started the second half again controlling most of the tempo and again creating chances in front of goal. Abby Bareis again opened the half scoring her second of the game on a nicely placed back post shot. Whether she meant to strike it as a cross or a shot doesn’t matter, that’s why we tell them to aim for the back post. Either way, it was a great goal by Abby.
Next up, freshman Brianna Hay scored her first varsity goal on a nicely placed shot through traffic and past the keeper from inside the box. Finally, junior Kelsey Walz made a hard run into the box and was rewarded after teammate Catie Stockton pulled the best spin move of the season around the Maple defender and shot the ball at the keeper. She finished the rebound for the 5th goal of the game. Stockton’s assist was the second of the game.
Senior Mary Hermann rejoined the team for the first time since before spring break after being out ill last week and added an assist in her first game back. Freshman Samantha Pagliarini also added an assist, also a first in a varsity game.
The Bulldogs play Ypsilanti Lincoln on Thursday at home in another SEC match-up. JV plays at 4 p.m. with varsity at 5:30 p.m. at the CHS Competition Field at 740 N. Freer Road.
Chelsea’s Varsity team is 3-3-2 to start the season (2-0 in SEC) while the JV team is off to an impressive start with a 5-1 record.
