Addison Moyer of Archbold handles a ball versus Ottawa Hills Tuesday night in a district semifinal at Evergreen. The Blue Streaks edged the Green Bears 2-1.
Max Householder | AIM Media Midwest
Sophie Rupp of Archbold maneuvers the ball up the right side of the field Tuesday against Ottawa Hills.
Max Householder | AIM Media Midwest
Archbold’s Zoe Arend gets to a ball in Tuesday’s district semifinal versus Ottawa Hills.
Max Householder | AIM Media Midwest
Natalee Rose about to send a penalty kick towards the net that would ultimately give Archbold a 2-1 win over Ottawa Hills Tuesday. They play Ottawa-Glandorf on Saturday for the district championship.
Max Householder | AIM Media Midwest
Archbold’s Natalee Roth scored both her team’s goals near the end of each half — the last via a penalty kick — as the Blue Streaks outlasted Ottawa Hills 2-1 in a Division III girls soccer district semifinal at Evergreen Tuesday.
The Streaks now face top-seeded Ottawa-Glandorf on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the district championship. The Titans downed Swanton 5-0 in the other semifinal.
“He (Coach James Kidder) has told them from the beginning what they’re capable of and how far they can go,” said Archbold Assistant Coach Jennifer Kidder. “They proved last week with Liberty Center and then again today (what they’re capable of).
“I was talking to somebody today and I said ‘you know what, this is 18 games in this season and we’ve never once had our full lineup for a game.’ That’s not gonna change now. Everybody’s stepping up and doing what they need to do to make it happen.”
Archbold held a 1-0 lead until 16:24 to play when Meredith Greeley found the back of the net for the Green Bears.
Both teams had opportunities down the stretch but it was the Streaks who cashed in. With Archbold threatening, an Ottawa Hills player committed a handball violation in the box, thus giving Archbold a PK try.
According to Jennifer Kidder, fellow Blue Streak assistant Brodie Dominique thought it should be Rose taking the shot. And that is who they went with.
Rose put it past the Green Bear keeper, giving the Streaks a 2-1 lead with 2:41 left and that was what the final line read.
“Holy cow, you talk about pressure situations, and Natalee delivered today — both of those goals. Just when we needed it,” Jennifer Kidder said of Rose. “We practice PKs, obviously the last couple weeks getting to tournament time. That’s something that obviously can happen. James and I both are on the side, I’m like ‘who’s taking it, who’s taking it?’ And Brodie’s like, give it to Natalee. And she did it, she delivered. It was a beautiful kick. It definitely was not the best soccer we’ve ever played. Props to Ottawa Hills for putting the pressure on. But luckily we had the opportunities that we did.”
The first Archbold goal by Rose came with only 11 ticks left in the first half. She found the back of the net with a free kick from about 15 yards away.
Archbold improved to 8-7-3 with the win.
Reach Max Householder at 419-335-2010.
