|
Ram soccer picks up state ranking Montrose kickers add pair of 1-0 wins MONTROSE - For the first time in the history of Montrose girls' soccer, the Rams are state ranked. Coach Jason Perrin said the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association gave the Rams an eighth place slot in Division II during the first week of May. "It's a testament to what these girls, and the ones before them, have done to build our program," Perrin said. "Hopefully, it motivates us to work harder." Perrin's hopes may be fulfilled, as the girls added two non-conference1-0 wins following the state-ranking announcement. The Lady Rams out shot Waterford Mott 10-3 in a week capping game on Friday, May 1 before launching the next week with a 23-1 shot advantage over Bad Axe on Monday. On May 1, both the hosting Montrose and visiting Waterford Mott went into the second half scoreless. Coach Jason Perrin said the Corsairs controlled the first ten minutes of play in the second half before the Rams could regain their momentum with three shots that deflected off the post. With less than four minutes remaining in the match, Taryn Handyside sent a pass to Kayla Setzke. The Corsairs keeper could only get one hand on Setzke's shot and the ball landed at Corey Delcore's feet. Delcore found the back of the net for the only goal of the game. "This was another quality win against a much bigger opponent," Perrin said. "Waterford Mott is a tough Division One school and they play in a very tough league, so this was a good result. We played great team soccer and won a lot of battles for loose balls." Chelsea Martin earned the shutout in goal. Perrin said Amanda Jelinek also played strong defense for the Rams. The May 4 game at Bad Axe was not as close as the 1-0 score indicated, Perrin said, as the girls out shot the Hatchets 23-1. Setzke put in the goal off an Alexis Garza assist with about 25 minutes left in the match. Martin earned the shutout again, her 12th of the season. "We controlled the entire game and they played a 'bunker-up' style of defense so it was really congested in the middle of their goal," Perrin said. "We didn't finish well and it was not what you would call pretty soccer. It's one of those games, though, that you'll face when you have the advantage and the other team knows it. They were just looking to play defense, frustrate us and hopefully counterattack and put one in." The matches put the girls' record at 14-1-2, 4-1 in the Genesee Area Conference. |