Manchester Women’s Soccer begins state playoff run

The Manchester Varsity Soccer Team on the home field. Photo courtesy Scott Somerville

article and photos by Scott Somerville

The Manchester Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team began their state playoff run this past week with district 58 playoff matches against Lenawee Christian School and Clinton High School. As the district host, the Lady Dutch played both matches in Manchester providing the team with the all-important home field advantage as well as showcasing Manchester’s top tier athletic complex.

On Tuesday, May 28, Manchester faced the Cougars of Lenawee Christian school in the first semi-final match of the day. On a rainy day with thunderstorms approaching, the Lady Dutch scored 10 minutes into the first after senior captain and midfielder Meghan (MJ) Somerville won the ball at midfield and sent a 35-yard pass to sophomore striker Abbi Austin on the right side. After taking a touch on the ball toward the goal, Austin took a strong shot to the far post just past the Cougars’ goalkeeper for the first goal of the night. “I was so glad to have been able to be at the right place at the right time,” said Austin following the match.

Two minutes after the goal, lightning was spotted in the area and the game was delayed for about 70 minutes. Following the restart, both teams displayed impressive defenses holding each other scoreless for the remainder of the match. At the final whistle, Manchester prevailed 1–0 to advance to the district final game vs. the winner of the second semi-final match of the night between the Clinton Red Wolves and the Blissfield Royals.

In that second semi-final match, also played in Manchester, Clinton jumped to an early 2–0 lead on goals scored by Red Wolves striker Aubrey Lauer. Blissfield was then able to come back to tie the match by scoring the next two goals. In the waning moments of the match, Lauer netted another two goals giving Clinton a 4–2 victory and setting up Manchester’s opponent in the district final.

On Thursday, May 30, the much-anticipated district final match between Manchester and Clinton started with a fast goal scored 1:15 into the match by the Lady Dutch from an excellent finish by senior captain and winger Miranda Austin as she was able to tap in a near-perfect corner kick by sophomore midfielder Madelynn Bennett. With 12 minutes remaining in the first, sophomore winger Olivia Woods took a long shot from the right side of the pitch that bounced off the cross bar and was immediately collected and converted by Bennett for Manchester’s second goal of the night. Entering halftime, the Lady Dutch held a 2–0 advantage.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Clinton netted their first of the night after an impressive shot from the far-right side of the pitch by Lauer into the left upper corner of the goal. Knowing that Lauer would continue to be a significant threat and could score at any moment, the Manchester defense of senior captain Fiona Howard and junior Savannah Roe (center backs), senior Gianna Turek and junior Lila Harvey (outside backs), and senior captain Emma Woods (holding mid-fielder) engaged a pressure and cover strategy to keep the high-scoring striker of the Red Wolves contained. As well, senior goalkeeper Megan Edwards had several key moments in the match by disrupting Clinton’s attack and tallying six saves for the night.

With twenty-two minutes remaining the second, Abbi Austin won the ball in the middle and found Somerville who dribbled past two Clinton defenders to find Olivia Woods who then sent a nice ball toward Bennett on the left side. Outrunning the Red Wolves outside back, Bennett was able to take a quick shot just past the Clinton goalkeeper to the far post to score Manchester’s third goal of the night, the second goal by Bennett for the “brace,” and the second Olivia Woods–to–Bennett combination of the night. “It felt great after I scored the goals, but I always forget how I feel when I’m with the ball and trying to score,” said Bennett following the match. “I think the only reason I actually scored was because I heard Abbi Austin screaming at me to shoot!”

At the final whistle, Manchester prevailed 3–1, clinching the district 58 championship and the third district championship in three years for the junior and senior classes.

Following the match, head coach Dan Tar praised the efforts of the Manchester defense, stating, “Our defense showed up to play tonight and contained a team that averages six goals per game. I’m really proud of how they played. It was possibly our best defensive performance of the year.”

The Lady Dutch now move on to the regional playoff bracket with the next match on June 4 vs. Lumen Christi in a re-match of last year’s regional semi-final. The match will be played at Riverview Gabriel Richard with a 6pm kickoff.

Soccer champs celebrate with their trophy. Photo courtesy Scott Somerville

Soccer players revel in their victories. Photo courtesy of Scott Somerville.

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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.