Rockford junior Erica Scott eludes a defender.
Tuesday, May 3, the Rockford Rams girls soccer team learned that Cedar Springs was ranked ahead of Rockford locally. That news was a little more motivation for an already motivated Rockford team.
Wednesday night, May 4, the Rams started strong, registering a couple shots on the Red Hawk goal within the first several minutes. Cedar Springs was not without a fight, though, and tried to bring the ball back at the Rams. But Rockford stayed strong and in the 14th minute created a corner kick. Senior winger Emily Cowan served a ball in front of the Red Hawk goal, and junior mid-fielder Erica Scott fired a beautiful shot past the Hawks’ goalkeeper for the first goal of the evening.
Emily Cowan makes a pass for Rockford.
Rockford kept the pressure up but had trouble getting shots on frame, making several shots either high or wide. The Red Hawks put a couple on the Rockford goal, but junior goalkeeper Mikaela Harrell made some outstanding saves, keeping the Rams on top.
Then, at the 29th minute, Rockford senior co-captain Sydney Benda fired a great free kick at the Red Hawk goal and junior forward Allison Cook finished the score, putting the Rams up 2-0 to end the first half.
Beginning the second half, the Rams did not let up the intensity, but Cedar Springs also ramped up their energy level, getting great pressure on the Rockford attack and putting the Rockford defense to the test. Defenders Gabrielle Pilgrim, Samantha Anderson and senior Allison Hazy had their hands full but made some beautiful saves with the goalie. However, with only 1:15 left in the match, Red Hawk junior Amber Milligan put Cedar Springs on the board. That goal was to be the last of the evening, making the final score Rockford 2, Cedar Springs 1.
After the game, Ram junior wide-out Erica Scott said, “We started the game strong and we did not let up after we scored the first goal.”
Junior goalkeeper Mikaela Harrel makes some outstanding saves for the Rams.
Scott scored a goal in the beginning of the match and said she got her last two goals from set pieces. “I love the corner kicks that Emily Cowan is serving up,” she commented. “Our defense did a great job the second half as well.”
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