SOCCER: Adams blanks Rochester to move into showdown with Athens for league title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Rochester Adams learned a lesson watching a fellow league opponent suffer a crushing blow last season. It may turn out to pay dividends for the Highlanders.
Adams watched Rochester stun Troy Athens, 4-3, in an OAA Red Division girls soccer match last May, which enabled the Highlanders to eventually win the league crown with a young team, finishing just ahead of Athens in the final standings. The morale to the story: Never look past any opponent.
Adams paid a visit to Rochester Tuesday and handed the Falcons a 4-0 setback. The win was significant this season because it set up a showdown Thursday with Troy Athens in a game that should decide the OAA Red Division title.
“I remember Athens got beat by Rochester last year and we ended up winning the league title because of it. Had Athens won, it may have ended up different,” recalled Adams coach Aaron Donaghy. “I know Rochester is really young this year, kind of like we were last year. But we didn’t want to look past them at all. They are still a good team, very prepared and well-coached.”
Adams did not look past the Falcons, scoring two goals in each half en route to the lopsided win. The Highlanders defeated Rochester, 1-0, in overtime in last year’s district opener and eventually reached the state semifinals.
Jessica Wineke picked up the shutout on five saves for Adams, the team’s seventh of the season.She had plenty of offensive firepower behind her, as the Highlanders outshot Rochester, 20-5.
Kylie Nylen, who played multiple positions during Tuesday’s win, gave Adams the 1-0 lead off a cross from Allie Reed. Hannah Lee added a penalty kick goal later in the half for a two-goal advantage.
“I thought Rochester came out and controlled play for the first 10 minutes of the game, actually both halves,” said Donaghy. “We slowly weathered that storm. Even when we went up 3-0, they still played hard. We were just able to convert our chances. Rochester did have a couple of nice opportunities. If they score on one of them, they are back in the game. We know how dangerous they are of corners and set pieces.”
Macey Houghtlin scored off a cross from Julie Genouw, while Merlin Beckwith capped the scoring for Adams in the second half. Brittany Bucker, Tiffany Buckler and Nylen starred defensively for the Highlanders.
“We have the ability to move people around, Kylie Nylen seems like she is all over,” said Donaghy. “We moved her back to sweeper for a little while and pushed Brittany Buckler up. Next thing you know it, Kylie’s back up in the attack making things happen. These girls can switch around and we don’t lose anything.”
Adams will have everything to lose in its next game. The Highlanders have one league tie, while Athens one league loss but has won 10 straight. Barring upsets next week, the winner of Thursday’s showdown will emerge as the league champ.
“We know how important Thursday is,” added Donaghy, whose team still has a contest with North Farmington next Tuesday. “We didn’t want to get caught looking ahead to Thursday and lose or tie this game. I thought we played very (motivated) against Rochester.”
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams
