With the score tied and a shot at first place on the line for Ripon Christian on Monday night and 12 minutes left in the game, Brooke Barnes took a shot for the Knights and missed, followed the ball and got a second chance at it.
She made the best of it, and found the net for what proved to be the winning goal in a 2-1 win over visiting Orestimba in Southern Athletic League girls soccer action.
Helia Vander Meulen got the through ball to Barnes for her goal.
“I try to always go for it after it bounces back,” Barnes said. “And it pays off when you keep going after it.”
Dayna Koolhaas put Ripon Christian (9-1-1 SAL, 17-3-1 overall) ahead 1-0 in the 15th minute when she set up on the 18 in front of the net and took a pass from Tatum Sonke and blasted the ball into the net for a 1-0 Knights lead.
“Setting up in front is something we work on a lot in practice,” Koolhaas said. “With Tatum Sonke’s ball it was perfectly lined up.
“I heard Brooke (Barnes) and Alanna (Blanco) both in my ear telling me to shoot it and with complete blind trust I shot it.”
Koolhaas’ goal was part of a 13-shot barrage for the Knights in the first half to just two for the Warriors (10-1, 15-3-2).
“I felt like we were performing really well, but it doesn’t count unless it’s in the net,” Ripon Christian coach David Morris said. “They beat us 1-0 at their place with a lot of the same things as today – we hit balls off the crossbar, we missed a PK down there – it kind of had that sinking feeling of ‘oh no, not again,’ because we really felt we could win this game today. I am really proud of the girls for us coming back and winning after Orestimba tied it up.
“This was a big win for us. It at least gives us a chance but we need help. Someone has to either tie them or beat them or they win the league. We may need help, but we took care of our own business and that’s all we can do.”
Maya Barajas tied the score in the 53rd minute for Orestimba.
The Knights came into the game trailing the Warriors by four points and now trail them by one. Ripon Christian travels to Le Grand on Thursday at 5 p.m. before hosting Denair next Monday afternoon at 3:30 to close out the SAL campaign.
Junior varsity
Ripon Christian 9, Orestimba 0
For the second season in a row the Knights finished their SAL schedule undefeated. They have no remaining games.
Ripon Christian’s Tessa Schooland scored three goals. Alyssa Hofman, Kate Van Groningen and Christiana Lambden each added a goal and an assist with Savannah Hoekman, Emmry Van Groningen and Allison Gatzman each chipping in a goal. Jaelynn Van Vliet added an assist.
