The Daily Standard
Story Archive
Coldwater's Chloe Frysinger (19) tries to deflect the ball after St. John's Nora Cox hits it during Tuesday's Western Ohio Soccer League match at Cavalier Stadium.
COLDWATER - The first 40 minutes weren't exactly going gangbusters for Coldwater.
But the final 28 minutes proved to be enough.
Mia Byer's goal with just over four minutes to play in the match allowed the Cavaliers to overcome a 2-0 deficit and secure a 2-2 tie with Delphos St. John's in the opener of Western Ohio Soccer League play at Cavalier Stadium.
The draw keeps Coldwater unbeaten on the season at 2-0-1 (0-0-1 WOSL). The Blue Jays move to 1-2-1 on the season (0-0-1 WOSL).
Coldwater's Mia Byer gets ready to kick the ball against St. John's on Tuesday.
The defenses for both teams started out strong as Coldwater held St. John's without a shot attempt for the first half of the opening 40 minutes. Coldwater had a few chances, but they were either wide or high or scooped up by Blue Jay keeper Bridgette Rice.
St. John's finally got the scoring started with just over 16 minutes to play as Ava Hershey got a shot past Cavalier keeper Sydney Grieshop with 16:12 to play in the half. Just over three minutes later, a rebound out of a pile-up in front of the goal got past Grieshop to make it 2-0 at the half.
"I think they scored those two goals on just two shots," said Coldwater coach Paul Dingledine. "The wind made a little difference (Coldwater was kicking into the wind in the first half). We changed our attitude that second half. We came out fired up."
It took just over 10 minutes for the Cavaliers halftime adjustments to start coming to fruition. Chloe Frysinger was able to get a shot past Rice with 29:57 remaining in regulation to get Coldwater back on track.
The Cavaliers kept up the attack, looking for the equalizer. Finally with the clock approaching four minutes to play, Byer got free and put the ball in the net for the tying goal.
Coldwater continued the pressure to try and get the go-ahead, playing 10 players on attack in the final minute, but were unable to put the game-winner away.
"We kept attacking and attacking," said Dingledine. "Proud of the girls and the way they played to come back from a 2-0 deficit showed some heart. They're willing to play hard."
Coldwater gets two matches this week against Indiana squads, traveling to Portland on Thursday to face Jay County before South Adams travels east for a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee.
Coldwater's Ava Lefeld (7) tries to keep control of the ball against St. John's.
