ROCKFORD ATHLETICS I HOME OF THE RAMS

The Varsity girls came in prepared and ready to face undefeated East Grand Rapids. A team we played earlier and lost to in overtime 12-10. The Rams were ready right from the start, winning the opening draw. East Grand Rapids however would strike first and go up 1-0. The Rams defense was off to a great start and really kept the high scoring Pioneers off the board. The Rams would respond, and with 1:36 remaining in the first quarter, Brooke Gordon would intercept a pass and take it in to tie the game up 1-1. The Pioneers would answer with 50 seconds left in the quarter and go up 2-1 to end the first quarter. The Rams defense was building confidence and came out strong in the 2nd quarter. After a strong defense and save by Goalie Mia Mabry, the Rams quickly transitioned the ball up the field. Sydney Meisling delivered a nice pass to Kiah Kruisenga who would find the top right corner to tie things up at 2-2. The Pioneers would answer right back and again take the lead 3-2. The defense again would step up, led by Lyla Vogt, Payten Davis, Ella Termaat and Kyla Moore. After a Rams stop the offense would get their chance and capitalize when Jordan Coretti found Ava Wekenman who wrapped around the crease and put in the top right corner to tie it up at 3-3. The Rams would then take the lead when Wekenman drove and then dumped it to Avery Maag who would beat the Pioneer goalie. The Rams would take a 4-3 lead into halftime. East Grand Rapids would come out strong in the 2nd half and quickly tied up the game at 4-4. The Pioneers scored again to go up 5-4 but the Ram defense would come up big again and get the ball back. It was the Rams turn to turn up the offense. The Rams would strike quickly when Coretti would race up the field to find Kruisenga streaking down the middle. Kruisenga beat the goalie low to tie it up at 5-5. Then just 3 minutes later, Coretti would get a free position opportunity. She would make a nice inside dodge and rip it into the net to put the Rams up 6-5. Being the good team that EGR is, they would find the equalizer with just 38 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. This was a typical East Grand Rapids game and it was going to come down to the 4th quarter. Just 20 seconds into the 4th quarter the Rams would strike first when Wekenman would find a wide open Kruisenga who buried it in the goal to put the Rams ahead 7-6. The Rams were starting to gain some momentum when Maag was fouled inside the 8 and awarded a free position. She would make the best of this opportunity firing a shot from the 8-meter increasing the lead to 8-6 Rams. The Rams weren't finished yet. Coretti would send a crossing pass to Wekenman who then wrapped around the crease and finished the shot to put the Rams up 9-6. The Pioneers didn't quit and came down to score and make it 9-7 with just 3:58 to go. Goalie Mabry and the defense would take over for the Rams till the end and the Rams would come away victorious 9-7. Kiah Kruisenga led all goal scorers with 3 goals. Ava Wekenman finished with 2 goals and 2 assists, Avery Maag also had 2 goals and was amazing on the draw winning 70% of the draws, and Jordyn Coretti had a goal and 3 assists. Brooke Gordon also had a goal but had a tremendous game with several huge ground balls and 6 draw controls. Sophomore Goalie Mia Mabry was outstanding in goal and came away with 10 saves.