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September 3 was a bad day – and a good one – for Northwood's girls’ soccer team.
It was a Saturday and the Rangers were taking on Lake, one of the best teams in Northwest Ohio. The result was a 4-1 loss to the Flyers that opened a few eyes on Northwood's side of the field.
“The biggest thing it taught us was we need to show up as soon as we get off the bus,” second year Northwood coach Monte Bandeen said. “Lake jumped on us early, 3-1, and then we settled down. It became a completely different game once we settled down. It showed us we need to come into every game ready to go.”
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Northwood soccer player Marissa Ramirez (9) competes for
control of the ball. (Press photo courtesy of Don Thompson/
picasweb.google.com/donrachael)
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Since that loss the Rangers (13-1) had won 10 straight games — the latest a 10-0 rout over Ottawa Hills Wednesday at home. Of course, it helps having 10 seniors and one junior, center midfielder Taylor Cruz, in the starting lineup.
“We had team goals going into this year,” Bandeen said. “I have 10 seniors and I told them they can go out one of two ways – as one of the most successful teams in school history or one of the most disappointing teams in school history. I laid it on the line with them and it kind of woke them up a little bit. They're a great group, and they're a great group to coach. It gave them the drive to want to win the league and advance far in the state tournament.”
Last year Northwood competed in Division I of the Northwest Ohio High School Scholastistic Soccer League (NWOHSSSL). The Rangers were in the same division as St. Ursula Academy, Notre Dame Academy and Clay, which have all moved to the Three Rivers Athletic Conference.
This year the Rangers are competing in one division along with Cardinal Stritch, Bowsher, Start, Whitmer, Waite and Toledo Christian. Northwood has also dropped from Division II to Division III this season after the Ohio High School Athletic Association added the smaller division.
“I think it will affect us positively,” Bandeen said of dropping down to D-III. “It gives us a better chance to advance farther into the state tournament. We're playing more schools our size. And, when we go to vote for all-district teams, there aren't as many teams in the district so it will be easier to get our kids recognized.”
The Rangers, who blanked Toledo Christian 8-0 on Monday behind two goals apiece by senior forward Jessica Grindle and senior midfielder Anna Raymond, clinched at least a share of their first league title in three years. They can win it outright with a win over Stritch on Oct. 15.
Northwood has outscored its first 14 opponents by an 85-11 margin.
“I expected us to score quite a few goals this year,” Bandeen said. “We're a very balanced team. Everyone on our (19-player) roster has scored at least one goal this year. With players like Jessica Grindle and Taylor Cruz, those two are big scorers up top. We have a lot of different girls who can score in bunches.
“Defensively, we've been very solid. We've had eight shutouts. I have a strong goalie and four seniors – Nikki Davenport, Marissa Ramirez, Searra Lindhurst and Alysha Henzler - who play defense. They're very quick and they're very good at keeping the ball in front of them and not letting people get around them. They're also very good at contributing to the offense.”
Grindle, a first-team all-league pick last season, leads Northwood in scoring with 22 goals and seven assists.
“She's a phenomenal player, fundamentally sound,” Bandeen said. “She is strong and fast and a great finisher. She is a tireless worker.”
Kayla Kurth, a senior forward, has 10 goals and eight assists. Kurth was a finalist in the 100-meter dash at last spring's D-III state track meet.
“She is very fast and she is a very strong finisher,” Bandeen said.
Junior forward Alli Coy, who comes off the bench, has added 11 goals.
“Alli is about 5-foot and about 100 pounds soaking wet,” Bandeen said. “What she lacks in size, she makes up for in determination. Anytime she's on the field, she is always working hard.”
The Rangers' other seniors include midfielders Sandy Koch and Becca Bisbee and goalie Megan Hess, who has 67 saves and nine shutouts.
“Megan is fundamentally sound and always seems to come up big in the big games,” Bandeen said. “She's definitely a leader on the team.”
The Rangers play in the Genoa sectional in two weeks against Genoa, Woodmore, Stritch, Margaretta or Huron, depending on the draw Sunday.
“Our ultimate goal is to play the second Saturday in November in Columbus,” Bandeen said. “This is a special group of girls who could definitely do it if we get the right bounces and get the right games. It could be a special year if everything goes the way it's supposed to.”
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