Dexter Soccer Team Rebounds by Kicking the Mules

By Alex Hardie

In a tightly contested match, the Dexter varsity soccer team were held off of the scoreboard for most of the first half of Thursday's match against Beford, but held on to eventually win 3-0.

Late in the first half, Dexter was awarded a free kick from 25 yards out. With a wall set 10 yards away, the ball was struck and was kept from passing beyond the wall when a Bedford player blocked the ball with his hand.

The ensuing penalty kick, by Cory Poirier, was fired in past a defenseless keeper for the 1-0 score with 50.9 seconds left on the clock.

Dexter carried the goal advantage through most of the second half until Nils Valdmanis sent a free kick in from about 30 yards out to an onrushing Evan Burke. The ball was redirected into the upper corner of the Bedford goal from 8 yards out. Two minutes later, Jake Kilian fired a shot in past the keeper that bounced back and up in the air to Bobby Toth.

“In stride, Bobby jumped and volleyed the ball in with the inside of his foot," Dexter coach Scott Forrester said. “It was a very nice finish, as were all of our goals.”

With the 3-0 win, the Dreadnaughts moved to 8-3-1 on the season and 2-1-0 in the conference.

Keeper Rhys Moller added another shut-out for the team’s sixth in 12 games. 

“Within the span of a week, this team has learned many lessons that will help us grow. Our play tonight against a team that was 4-1-2, was indicative of where we are," Forrester said.

The Dreads have the weekend off but have a busy week ahead as the face Lincoln at home, Skyline on the road and DeWitt at home.