Dodson Scores Twice as Waubonsie Prevails

Only one team left the soccer field with a win on Saturday, but both squads left feeling pretty good.

Behind a pair of goals from freshman Kristen Dodson, was able to hold off upstart Metea Valley 3-1 on a chilly, windy Saturday afternoon in Aurora.

But for the first-year Mustangs (6-2-1) there were plenty of positives to take away, especially a strong second half in which they closed the gap to 2-1 on the defending state champions and then kept up the pressure before eventually succumbing after Dodson sealed the Warriors’ win with her second tally of the day late in the contest.

“We did pretty well overall as a team,” said Dodson, who scored the first and last goals of the game. “We’re starting to get that chemistry coming together.”

Dodson worked well with teammate Shannon Donelson on her first score, racing to control a pass from Donelson and then dribbling around Mustangs keeper Megan Geldernick to give herself an open net in which to convert for a 1-0 lead with 31:40 left in the first half.

“I saw Shannon just kick the ball through and I thought I might be able to get to it,” said Dodson. “I just ran toward it and got it.”

Waubonsie (2-1) got another one when senior Megan Green scored with 10 minutes left in the half off one of two assists from freshman Kristen Brots.

But Metea did not buckle under the pressure of taking on their more experience rivals on the road.

Junior Kristina Tomaras, who played for the Warriors as a freshman, brought the Mustangs to within 2-1 with her third goal of the season. Ten minutes into the second half Tomaras surprised Warriors keeper Jordan Myers with a shot from the left that found its way through traffic and deflected off the right goal post and into the net.

“I was trying to cross it and the wind took it and put it in,” said Tomaras. “I think it surprised everyone.”

What it also did was give Metea some confidence and plenty of momentum.

Looking to draw even at 2-all, the Mustangs had a pair of golden opportunities but just couldn’t quite finish. Midway through the second half Myers made a tremendous save on Abby Adams in close to keep Waubonsie up a goal. Then with close to 12 minutes left, a Tomaras corner kick landed right in front of the Warrior goal and appeared to allow several players a chance to slam it home, only to have Myers and the Warrior defense tie up the ball and eventually thwart the threat.

Dodson then iced the 3-1 win for the home team with 2:30 left to play.

Even in defeat, Mustangs coach Pat Feulner liked what he saw from his young squad. “All in all it was a good effort,” he said. “It was our sixth match of the week and I was a little worried about our legs. But the girls came out hard in the second half and gave us a chance to win the game. We just have to finish our chances.”