Senior Ana Bering found the back of the net from 25 yards out in the second overtime, and the #12 (1A) Dike-New Hartford girls soccer team knocked off #2 (1A) Gilbert 1-0 in a 1A regional final Thursday on the Tigers’ home field. The win advanced the Wolverines to their second state tournament in four years. Bering on the game-winner.
“I was just sticking with my instinct at that point,” Bering says. “I wasn’t really seeing much. I was getting over to my right and trying to slide down in that corner there and just hoping for the best at that point. Obviously, it got far enough that the goalie couldn’t get it!”
Throughout the first and second halves, Gilbert owned the possession time, and the majority of the game was played on their offensive half of the field. But in the first and second overtime periods, the Wolverines seemingly flipped a switch, according to Head Coach Emma Eden.
“I think the mindset just changed that it’s one goal, like one goal is all it takes,” Eden says. “You just got to put it in the back of the net and all you’ve worked for this season, you’re playing for it. I think that second one, I don’t know what I said, but those girls just came out of it and they had a fire ready to go and they wanted it and they got it. And honestly, I think some of them are really tired, but they got it.”
Senior goalkeeper Miranda Tyler was just as critical in the win, recording 25 saves and a shutout in 98 minutes in the goal.
“I just stuck with my instincts. I trusted in my training that I’ve done throughout almost my entire life. I just kept on working hard too. And I trusted my defense. I knew my defense would get there if I bobbled the ball or just needed it to get out, I knew that they were there to help me out.”
The Wolverines registered only six shots, but they were all on goal.
At 15-4, the Wolverines will be the #8-seed in the state tournament. They’ll face top-seeded Davenport Assumption in a state quarterfinal on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines. All Wolverine state tournament games will air on 99 The Wave.
Interview with Ana Bering and Miranda Tyler:
Interview with Emma Eden:
98 minutes of soccer later & down goes #2! Girls will play 5/28 at 10:00am vs #1 Davenport Assumption.
Players of the Game: Everyone. We couldn’t be prouder of our girls tonight on this HUGE win.@DNH_AD @DNHSUPT pic.twitter.com/EG7CqEgpJj
— DNH Soccer (@DnhSoccer) May 24, 2024
