BIG RAPIDS – It was the first known meeting between Big Rapids and Shepherd girls soccer teams and the Cardinals used the home field advantage to their favor.
Julia Waltz had seven shots on goal and four of them went into the back of the net in a 7-0 Big Rapids win over Shepherd at Cardinal Stadium in a first-round Division 3 district game on Wednesday.
The Cardinals, 10-9, will host Reed City at 7 p.m. on May 31 in a district semifinal game.
“I think we did a good job of possession of the ball,” Big Rapids coach Curt Ray said. “We did a good job of possessing. We had a lot of good opportunities. Their No. 21 (Madi Gates) a tall girl, kept stepping in front of us and set the long balls back.
“We told the girls that’s not the way we play and you have to step in front of them because what you can do against one team you can’t do against another one. If we get past next Wednesday, we know we’ll have our hands full in the district final.”
Waltz scored the team’s third goal and the last three of the game. It was 4-0 at halftime.
“I thought we played very well,” junior Ella Tucci said. “I thought our overall energy was very well. We stuck to it the whole time.”
“We had a lot of good offensive plays,” junior Teresa Vance said. “We had a lot of good through balls and a lot of good shots. I think we’re putting things together. We still have things to work on.”
Kyra Couch scored the first goal, assisted by Teresa Vance. Emily Bell had the next one, assisted by Couch. Vance assisted Waltz’ first goal and Grace Currie aided on a goal by Grace Pincumbe.
Big Rapids outshot Shepherd 43-5 and 20-5 in shots on goal. Goalkeeper Kelsie Gorczewicz had five saves.
Playing at Cardinal Stadium with the field turf, which their opponents don’t have, is an advantage for the Cardinals, Ray acknowledged.
“We’re a good quick ethical team so turf plays to our advantage, “Ray said. “The field is a lot bigger. Reed City plays on their football field and Tri County has a rough field to play on. It should be an advantage to us. But we should still be able to wrap up the intensity of the game.”