The #12 (1A) Dike-New Hartford girls soccer team defeated Aplington-Parkersburg 3-1 in a 1A regional quarterfinal in New Hartford Wednesday, as aired on 99 The Wave.
The Wolverines got on the board in the first half on a midrange goal by Gentry Swarts with 19:57 left. With 8:22 before halftime, Rylee Reicks tapped the ball away from traffic into the goal from a few yards out to double the lead. 70 seconds later, the Falcons got on the board with a long goal by Kiara Morris, and it was 2-1 at halftime.
With 18:57 left in the second half, Lucy Varney connected on her team-leading 11th goal of the season, giving the Wolverines a 3-1 lead which they held until the end. Head Coach Emma Eden says the second half defense was the difference.
“I think our ball movement was doing a really nice job of finding the width on our field, just making those runs down the line and crossing it in,” Eden says. “And we had people that were there to make that cross and did a nice job of finding the back of the net. And I mean, our defense played very strong tonight.”
Falcon coach Cory Goetsch on his team’s intensity.
“I don’t think we can ask a lot more out of our girls,” Goetsch says. “I think they gave everything they could out there. I think they played really hard. That’s what I told them at the end of the game, that I was really proud of their efforts. I think they put it all out there and really played a tough game and kept the game close. I think DNH had to work really hard to get what they got and I think we went out there and competed well.”
Aplington-Parkersburg ends its season 8-9.
Dike-New Hartford is 13-4 and will play at #15 (1A) Garner-Hayfield-Ventura in Tuesday’s regional semifinal, a game that’ll air on 99 The Wave.
