GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Parkside women's soccer team (9-6-4, 7-5-3) went on the road and defeated Davenport (10-5-4, 8-5-2) 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals. The win sends the Rangers through to the semifinals for the second consecutive season and third time in the last four years.
Parkside paired a narrow shot advantage with a late defensive stretch, finishing with 16 shots and eight on goal, exceeding its season average of 7.47, while Davenport had 11 shots and six on frame. The Rangers have now recorded at least eight shots on goal in four consecutive matches. With Parkside ahead by one, Davenport recorded three shots and four corner kicks from the 79th minute into the final minute without scoring.
Parkside had the stronger first-half volume, finishing with eight shots and four corner kicks while Davenport recorded two shots and no corners.
Kayden Schmidt,
Rilyn Breinholt and
Kate Brown each scored for Parkside, with
Lindsay Dahlinger and
Emma Ambrose adding assists, before Davenport scored late to send the Rangers into halftime ahead 3-1.
The Rangers' first goal started from the far corner spot, as Ambrose's cross deflected back to her and she tapped it for Brown just outside the six. Brown tried two shots that were denied before the ball reached the net, but Schmidt picked up the final rebound and blasted it into the bottom right corner for her fifth goal of the season to open the scoring. It was Ambrose's first assist of the season.
The Rangers' second goal came not even three minutes later, when Dahlinger steamed up the right flank and sent a nifty cross through three defenders to the right foot of Breinholt, who tucked it home to double the lead.
The third and final goal proved to be the game-winner, and it was a beauty, as Brown struck a ball from well outside 30 yards and tucked it right between the crossbar and a leaping Elizabeth Wolter to make it 3-0.
Parkside put five of its eight second-half shots on goal, all in the first 12 minutes after halftime, but Davenport finished the half with a 9-8 shot edge and a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks. Davenport scored in the 75th minute on Audrey Muterspaugh's goal off Autumn Wakefield's assist, while Parkside got three combined saves from
Lindsey Ferrara and
Tabi Lemens to close out the 3-2 result.
Brown scored the game-winning goal and finished with three shots. It was Brown's first game-winning goal of the season. Breinholt scored on three shots, putting all three attempts on goal. Schmidt added the opening goal on two shots. Dahlinger recorded an assist and put her lone shot on goal.
Parkside is now 9-6-4 overall and 7-5-3 in conference play. Davenport finishes the season 10-5-4 overall and 8-5-2 in GLIAC play.
Up next, the Parkside soccer team heads to Allendale, Michigan for the GLIAC Tournament semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6. The fifth-seeded Rangers will take on the eighth-seeded Ferris State Bulldogs, who are coming off an upset of the No. 1 seed, the Wayne State Warriors.
To keep up with the Rangers this weekend, be sure to visit
parksiderangers.com/coverage.
