It was a chilly, wet night at Bulldog Stadium as Otsego looked to stay undefeated in conference play against visiting Edwardsburg. The match provided spectators all they could handle in terms of goal scoring and lead changes. Just three minutes into play, the Eddies jumped out to a 1-0 lead and were quickly on the front foot. As Otsego has had to do a few times in recent matches, they dug out of an early hole through a Cait Kitchen goal in the 22nd minute on a powerful individual effort. Kitchen would double her total and give her side the lead just six minutes later off a feed from Erica Drobny. The match was back and forth for the next 10-12 minutes and looked as if it would go into halftime in favor of the hosts. A defensive miscue led to the equalizing goal as Edwardsburg pounced on an opportunity and made no mistake.

The second half saw the Bulldogs sputter early and give up goals in the 47th and 58th minutes to two of Edwardsburg's talented Freshmen Makenna Fonseca and Ashlee Low. Down 2 goals and staring a crippling Wolverine Conference loss in the face, the Bulldogs climbed on the back of their three Captains (Drobny, VerHage, and Waters) and decided to start fighting. Normally a midfielder, Colleen Waters dropped into the back line to solidify things defensively. Erica Drobny and Gracie VerHage  took turns playing in the midfield and up top and the team found their stride. Gracie pressed hard on a goal kick for the Eddies, and forced a mistake which she curled into the side netting from 18 yards out after a little fancy footwork. An hour into the match and the Bulldogs were turning the momentum. 

A shape change to a more midfield heavy 3-5-2 with 15 minutes remaining was a key to winning the middle of the park for the hosts. In the 70th minute, VerHage again exhibited the footwork and finishing ability that make her so special as she leveled the score at 4 goals apiece. Sophomore Cait Kitchen would not be satisfied with 2 goals on the night, and put her team up 5-4 in the 73rd minute completing her hat trick in the process. From then on, the Eddies would knock at the door a few times only to have it slammed in their face by the Bulldog back line. Solid midfield play, and tough ball winning in the final minutes sealed the victory for the Dawgs.

Otsego improves to 3-0 in Wolverine Conference play, and 6-0-2 on the year. Ambreanna Powell made 5 saves in her first Varsity start in goal, and snuffed out numerous attacks by sliding through attackers before they were able to shoot. Kitchen's hat trick puts her at 4 goals on the season, and VerHage's brace puts her over the decade mark with 11 goals. The assist chipped in by Erica Drobny was her second of the year. Player of the Game honors go to Cait Kitchen for her hat trick and game winning goal.

Otsego travels to South Haven on Wednesday 5/3 for a 5:30pm match at Ratcliffe Field.