The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PAIR OF HAT TRICKS PACE WELLINGTON
Dukes rout Columbia, will face Cuyahoga Heights
In the 2020 regular season, the Wellington Dukes played through their stud trio of Nadia Greer, Lauren Alley and Madalyn Mull en route to a Lorain Conference League Championship.
OnOct. 19, that trio flexed their muscles in the postseason as well, as they helped lead the Dukes to a 9-1 Division III sectional semifinal win over Columbia. The Dukes move on to play Cuyahoga Heights on Oct. 21 in a sectional final.
“We have probably the best trio in the middle,” Wellington coach Jason Gundert said. “When they’re playing together, we’re unstoppable. They controlled the game for us today.”
The Dukes wasted no time
getting in the scoring column, as Mull found the back of the net in the third minute, which was quickly followed up by a goal from Greer in the fifth minute. Columbia opened the match playing its backline near, or almost at, the midfield line. After adjusting to the unconventional look, the Dukes were able to strike.
“One thing I noticed early on is that we were able to get balls in behind their defense to the feet of runners and that worked really well,” Alley said. “We like to play feet and play combinations through the middle and we had to change that a little bit because of how high they were playing.
“I think we did a really job of not overhitting balls and putting them right where they needed to be.”
After tallying a goal in the 16th minute from Jill Laposky, Wellington scored twice in the 21st minute on
goals from Mull and Greer. Mull got her third goal in the 49th minute to complete the hat trick, while Alley recorded three goals in the secondhalf for herownhat trick.
“We were able to find feet and switch the field really well. Most teams play the ball over the top the defense. But we play through the middle and that was really working,” Greer said.
The Dukes dominated for the full 80 minutes, outshooting the Raiders, 271. The Raiders scored their goal in the 16th minute on a Rachel Washburn free kick that she curled in from more than 20 yards out. Outside of Washburn’s goal, the Dukes defense snuffed out any Columbia threat.
“We have a great work ethic, and everyone’s played
such a big role in this team,” Alley said. “We’ve played together for a long time and we know how to play to each other’s strengths.”
After splitting the season series with Columbia, Wellington moves on while also ending the Raiders’ season.
“They work hard and they’re a really good team,” Gundert said. “It was a little bit of revenge. We had a point to prove today. When our passing is on, we’re a good team. We always have something to prove.”
If the Dukes continue to click on offense, there’s no telling how far they can go in the postseason.
There’s not one person that’s doing one thing,” Alley said. “Right now, the whole team is working together.”