Delta Continues Their Roll, Getting the 6-0 Win over the Surge

It was a big day for the Delta Athletic Program, as their fifth annual AIDS Walk event started the day, with the soccer game against Cincinnati State capping the end of a busy day for the Pioneers. And the soccer team sure didn't disappoint, starting fast against the Surge and using their depth to keep the pressure on their talented back line.

Skylar Eckert continued her hot streak as 65 seconds into the game, she took a well-paced through ball from Taylor Farrand and beat the keeper to give the Lady Pioneers an early 1-0 lead. The goal would be the sixth in her last four games for Eckert, who hopes to continue that momentum throughout the remainder of the season. Delta wouldn't settle for just the one goal in the first half, as with seven minutes remaining in the half Elena Lippert would loft one over the keeper from 25 yards out unassisted, sending the Lady Pioneers into intermission up by two goals. The coaches emphasized the need for them to control their attack and be a lot more patient in the second half. They were also very pleased in how much Delta controlled the time of possession battle in the first half.

The team responded well, and found the back of the net within the first 10 minutes of the second half. Sophomore Brianna Redmond sent a long pass ahead to Madison Jewell who sent a shot from 18 yards out that beat the Surge keeper. 15 minutes later, Eckert would get back into the box score when she found a wide open Casey Allessie on the near post where she converted the shot and sent Delta to a 4-0 lead. Allessie was not done there, collecting her second goal just minutes later off the assist from Hope Emington. Delta would close the book on scoring when Nicole Hill sent a through ball up to Taylor Farrand who drove a shot past the keeper and into the far corner of the goal.

"I was very pleased with how the team responded at halftime, and came out and controlled the ball with more patience," Head Coach Paul Stenglein said after the win. "There were many times where we would possess the ball for minutes at a time in their defensive third of the field."

The constant offensive pressure made it tough for the Surge to get into a good position to fire shots at the net, as they only recorded two on the afternoon. Both shots were against Kalyn Breckenridge who recorded another shutout in net for the Lady Pioneers.

"This was a great game for us, and we learned what we need to learn to be prepared for our next game with them," Stenglein added. "This next game will determine who represents Region 12 in the postseason tournament.

The schedule doesn't get any lighter for the Lady Pioneers as they have three games in five days over the course of the next week including a Wednesday showdown with Lake Michigan at home.