Northville attackers fill net, defenders stifle SL East in 7-0 rout
Northville’s Summer Larson outraces two South Lyon East defenders to the ball during Friday’s 7-0 Mustang win. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN MALES
Pity the poor opponent who faces Northville’s girls soccer team when it’s running on all cylinders like the Mustangs were during Friday night’s non-conference match against visiting South Lyon East.
The Mustangs bombarded East junior goal-keeper Hayden Adkins with every kind of shot imaginable on the way to a rarely-in-doubt 7-0 victory.
The game would have no doubt ended early via the 8-0 mercy rule if not for the work of Adkins, who deflected a number of dangerous Northville shots out of harm’s way with diving efforts.
Big game on tap
Northville improved to 5-0-1 heading into Tuesday’s key KLAA West Division showdown against Salem, which is also unbeaten. Both teams were ranked in the top 15 in Division 1 (Northville was No. 7, Salem No. 14) in the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association’s latest poll.
Through their first six contests, the Mustangs have outscored their opponents 25-4. The Cougars slipped to 3-3-2 with the loss.
(Check out a video of Juliana’s second goal by clicking here.)
Northville’s first goal was a work of art. Senior Taylor Morrison kick-started the score when she hustled down a ball headed past the end line. Morrison slid a pass to Lauren Yaquinto, who was sprinting down the sideline. Following a couple of dribbles, Yaquinto roped a on-target pass to Juliana Bohlen, who deked an East defender as she settled it at her feet.
Bohlen then ripped a one-on-one opportunity past Adkins for the igniting net-finder.
Goals earn style points
The Mustangs’ second goal four minutes earned an equal number of style points.
Ally Pace dribbled toward the corner before laying a pass back to Zaina Fakhoury, who dodged one East defender before centering the ball to Summer Larson, who nudged it past Adkins.
Northville led 3-0 at the half when Bohlen displayed some Harlem Globetrotters-esque ball-handling before sending a rising rocket into the upper-left corner of the goal.
Fakhoury tacked a fourth goal onto the scoreboard early in the second half when she chipped the ball over the outstretched arms of a hard-charging, sliding Adkins.
Chang nets a laser
The Mustangs scored off a corner kick before Macy Gugala’s long, hard shot was mishandled by Adkins before it bounced across the goal line.
Junior Karina Chang capped the scoring when she ripped a free kick from about 15 yards out into — and almost through — the back of the net.
The Mustangs’ air-tight defensive effort prevented East from mounting many scoring chances against Northville keeper Cam Topper, who registered her second clean sheet of the season.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
