In Slippery Conditions, Hornets Hold On Tight for 3-2 Win Over Phoenix

YPSILANTI — Junior Devin O'Neill scored two goals early in the second half to lead the Saline Hornets varsity soccer team to a 3-2 victory over Ypsilanti Wednesday. The game was played on a rainy, windy day at Ypsilanti High School.

Saline improved to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the SEC, while Ypsilanti fell to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the SEC.

The Hornets held a 1-0 lead on half courtesy of captain Eric Williams' goal. Willams' free kick sailed past the Ypsilanti keeper for the early advantage.

Coach Dana Restrick said her team struggled with the slick conditions in the first half.

"This isn't fun. We're accustomed to the turf. But all of our boys have been playing soccer for years. They've been through this. This is just something you deal with," said Restrick, who altered the gameplan after the first half. "We like a ball control offense, but it was just not working in these conditions. So we went to a more direct attack."

It paid off. The Hornets dominated the opening minutes of the second half, generating many good scoring chances. A few moments into the half, the Hornets added to their lead. Andrew Prince's corner kick from the left sailed to the center of the crease. Willams went up for it with an Ypsilanti defender and headed it to his right. O'Neill pushed it further right to get distance from his man, and then booted it back the other way, with a hard, low shot off the outstretched keeper's hands and into the left lower corner of the goal.

The Hornets kept the Phoenix penned in their own end. Moments later, Saline was awarded another corner kick. This time, Prince's kick from the right corner sailed through the crease to the left side, where O'Neill went up against his man and headed a high ball up and over the Ypsilanti goalie, into the top corner of the goal.

The Hornets continued to pressure, looking like the faster, more confident team, but Ypsilanti finally got on the board with approximately 12 minutes to play. With the wind at his back, Madifing Condi launched a magnificent shot from 40 yards out along the right sideline. The shot sailed over everyone. Saline goalie Liam Foster, who played the second half, kept tracking it down but couldn't track catch it as it finally fell into the upper left corner of the goal. With just a few moments to spare, Ypsilanti put a scare into Saline. The officials ruled Foster held onto the ball too long and awarded a penalty kick. Foster made a diving save on a spinning kick but Ypsilanti's Szylvezster Kovetski was the right man in the right place, and he booted the rebound into the goal to make it 3-2.

Kyler Jacobs played the first half in goal for Saline.

Saline hosts Plymouth at 1 p.m. Saturday.