By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The Dayton defense continued to be stout in their 1-0 victory over Salem Academy in a non-league matchup on Thursday for their third-straight shutout.
Interestingly, the Pirates have only allowed one goal in four games this year. The one going against them came in their season-opener against Santiam Christian on September 2.
And in the admist of their road trip, their second of six games when they went to battle on Thursday, their defense traveled well.
The Crusaders created opportunities in the game, winning the possession battle, but the Dayton defense kept those opportunities to juat chances.
“It was great to see those opportunities because that’s what we’ve been working on in practice this week. Just use our center and just, pushing it to the outside and passing. Hopefully, next time we finish it,” said Salem Academy’s Stephanie Law.
“We’ve had a strong defense, and we’re just as strong of an offense, and it’s good for morals. We’ve had the fighting spirit today, and we’ve been capable of this, and it’s just up from here,” adds Dayton’s Emma Ceja.
Thursday’s game saw the Pirates first goal of the season, the goal coming in the final ten minutes of the game by way of a free kick from Nora Shepard as the Dayton offense found their footing in their fourth-game of the year.
“It was huge, the first one of the season for us and in a spot, ten minutes left and scrambling to make something happen, and I gave Nora the green light and have at it. That’s something Nora is really comfortable with, and it was really good to see,” said Pirates Head Coach Hailey Smith. “We needed that uplifting moment here, especially with a longer drive with how many road games in a row. It’s really easy to get bogged down in it, but to start it with a win is good.”
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
