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Coldwater's Grace Huwer (11) plays a header during Tuesday's WOSL match with Botkins at Cavaliers Stadium. The Cavaliers lost their first league match of the season.
COLDWATER - After Coldwater and Botkins played to a 1-1 draw in the first half, the Trojans scored twice in the second half to pull away from the Cavaliers 3-1 in Western Ohio Soccer League action Tuesday night at Cavalier Stadium.
Coldwater started the match on the front foot by creating pressure in the first half, which forced Botkins to make adjustments. The Trojans took the lead just 15 minutes into the match, however, as a Taylor Huelskamp shot was misplayed by the Coldwater keeper.
Behind 1-0, Coldwater kept pushing and applying pressure to the Botkins back line. After earning a corner, the ball was kicked around a few times before Natalie Timmerman pounced on the chance and put the ball in the net to equalize with just over 18 minutes to play in the first half.
Coldwater's Natalie Timmerman battles a Botkins player for possession of the ball.
After a few chances came and went, the halftime whistle blew and the teams headed to the break tied. Coldwater outshot Botkins 7-6 in the half, and the Trojans did not have a corner in the first 40 minutes, but Botkins made the most of their chance to keep it level.
Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Botkins found the lead off the foot of Lillian Bayless. A pass found her right foot, and the senior slotted it past the keeper to take a 2-1 lead.
"They came out and wanted it more than we did," Coldwater coach Paul Dingledine said. "We played hard, we just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net."
Coldwater (5-2-1, 0-1-1 WOSL) tried to establish itself in the second half. However a quick counter attack just a few minutes after the second goal led to a long ball sent by the visiting Trojans. Huelskamp controlled it past the keeper and tucked it in the net for a 3-1 lead.
With 27 minutes to go, the match had been turned around and Botkins was the team controlling play. Few chances came Coldwater's way, and the Cavs only mustered three shots on target in the half, compared to six from Botkins. With the Trojans all over the ball in the second half, they cruised to the victory and Coldwater was left with nothing in the end.
Next for the Cavaliers is a non-conference home match against Miller City.
"We want to see how we respond now," said Dingledine. "(Miller City) is always tough, we'll see how we bounce back against them."
Coldwater's Sydney Grieshop (33) tries to keep the ball away from Botkins' Mae Homan.
