The boys got the job done tonight against visiting conference foe South Haven. The Rams showed up very late for warmups, and the Bulldogs decided to show up very late for the first half. After 15 minutes of rather listless, underwhelming soccer from the starting 11... It was time for the reserves to offer the home team a spark. With only Goalkeeper Jayden Dentler and Freshman defender Jon Reitenour, who started at left back, on the pitch the reserves carried play for much of the next 10 minutes. Sophomore Avery Bush looked very solid in the center of midfield, and Hunter Lucas and Reitenour anchored the back line. A good few minutes for some of the younger guys, and a message sent to the starters were just what the team needed. With 10 minutes left to play in the first frame Bush served a ball into the danger area that Addi Atwater helped over the outstretched goalkeeper, and the scraps were cleaned up by Senior forward Keegan Timmerman. 1-0 in favor of the home side would be the score at the half.

The second half was a vast improvement from the first with the back line staying very composed and organized, and the mids and forwards linking up and showing passages of creativity and flair that we hadn't seen yet this year. though the ball seemed destined to go just wide or hit the woodwork, the Dawgs could sense their pressure would pay off. After a collision with Keegan, the Rams starting goalkeeper had to leave the match with an ankle injury. Otsego knew they had to test the new goalkeeper quickly, and they did just that. Josh Loll played an inch perfect ball over the top to fellow Captain Addi Atwater who drove at the frame and calmly slotted the ball to the goalkeeper's right. 

The Dawgs were able to hold out the next 14 minutes with some excellent possession, strong ball winning in the midfield, and lots of tracking by the forwards and wide players. It was a great team win that the Dawgs needed going into the weekend tournament at Comstock Park. Jayden Dentler was solid in net with 7 saves and some great distribution. He was helped out tremendously by good back line play, with Junior center back Cole Sallee earning Defensive Man of the Match for his brilliant performance. Keegan Timmerman, playing through a couple knocks from last week, takes home Offensive Man of the Match with his game winner and some high energy pressing up top.