Girls’s varsity soccer now 1-0-1 for the season following tie with Bulldogs

#15 Hayley Ray sets to deliver a drop kick vs. Chelsea. Photo by Lisa Somerville.

Submitted by Scott Somerville

The Manchester Girls Varsity Soccer Team played their second match of the season on Saturday April 9 at home vs. The Bulldogs of Chelsea High School. This was the first meeting between the two teams since 2017 when Chelsea prevailed, at home, 1-0.

On a “feels like” 31 degree Fahrenheit day with brisk north winds, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead off a converted corner kick three minutes into the game. On the same play, Manchester’s starting goal keeper, sophomore Megan Edwards, was sidelined following a ball-strike to her head that resulted in concussion protocol being enacted. Filling in for Edwards was senior captain Hayley Ray, who played the rest of the game in the keeper position.

As the first-half progressed, the Lady Dutch played more organized and the all-important ball possession battle was nearly even, with the Bulldogs maintaining a slight edge. Late in the first, Chelsea attacked up the middle with a breakaway that was well defended by Manchester, but the outcome of the play resulted in a questionable foul inside the penalty area called against Manchester. The subsequent penalty kick for Chelsea was converted and the Bulldogs entered halftime with a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, the Lady Dutch continued to played more organized and was able to reduce the Bulldog’s scoring chances as compared to the first. With 19 minutes left in the second, Chelsea committed a foul on the far-left side of the pitch just outside the Chelsea penalty area. Junior captain Grace Helmke took the free kick for Manchester and netted a 30 yard shot just over the Chelsea keeper’s outstretched hands. Helmke’s goal energized the Lady Dutch to get the equalizer, and with 15 minutes left in play, Chelsea committed another foul at nearly the exact field position as the previous.

Once again, Helmke took the free kick and, in an almost identical repeat of the first goal, scored the equalizer with 14:37 left on the clock. From there, both teams battled to find the game winning goal but strong defenses by both sides stifled any attacks and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

“Chelsea was very competitive and gave us a run for our money.”, said Helmke following the match. “Everybody played their hardest and that showed, which ultimately gave me the opportunity to score two goals. I couldn’t be prouder of my team and I’m excited to see how we progress in the future.”.

It should be noted that fill-in goal keeper, Hayley Ray, registered eight quality saves for the match, in her very first appearance in the goal keeping position in a High School Varsity Game. “I was glad to be able to help out my team.”, said Ray. “A goalie is only as good as their defensive line. I wouldn’t have been able to take on this position without support from Lila [Harvey], Lydia [Bennett], Maddy [Madison Chizek] and Sara [Hock]. It was an amazing experience but also nerve-wracking at the same time”.

The Lady Dutch are 1-0-1 entering their fourth week of the season. They will visit Jackson High School on Tuesday April 12 at 5:30 pm (Mehall Soccer Field). On Thursday April 14, Manchester will travel to Lenawee Christian school to face the Cougars in a rematch of the 2021 District Finals. Game time is 6:30 pm.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.