The Bulldogs started slowly on Monday night, as has often been the case with this squad. Three Rivers were the aggressor for the first 25 minutes of the contest. Despite a cool finish from Grace VerHage off an Alison Diller cut back ball in the 10th minute, the Bulldogs looked second best through the first phase of the match. The Otsego back line was standing up to the Wildcat pressure, but just barely, and goalkeeper Matti Rayman was commanding her area and swallowing up some dangerous crosses.

The Bulldogs settled in and began to tighten the screws defensively and control the middle of the field around the 30 minute mark. Just one minute before halftime Freshman Lexus Putt connected with VerHage who cut into the penalty area and nutmegged the goalkeeper for her second tally of the night. 2-0 would be the score headed into the break.

The second half was much more composed from Otsego's perspective, and they mounted a number of attacks on Three Rivers' frame. The wide players were getting the better of their 1v1 matchups going forward, Rayman's distribution both long and short became a weapon, and the connections in the center of the pitch were leading to some great opportunities for forward runners as well. Just 7 minutes into the half Otsego was awarded an indirect set piece 25 yards out in the center of the field. Naturally VerHage and Diller stood over the ball, formulating a plan. The end product was a little bit of deception followed by technical brilliance from Diller as she scooped the ball perfectly over the wall to Cait Kitchen who took it down and buried her shot from near the PK spot. Eight minutes later, Sophomore JV Call-Up Maddy Farmer would get involved in an unusual way. After an initial save that was redirected out toward the corner flag, Farmer found herself sprinting along the endline away from goal to collect the ball. Three Rivers' keeper had the same plan and chased Maddy down in an attempt to slide through and claim the loose ball inside her penalty area. Farmer crumpled as the onrushing keeper came through the back of her leg in an effort to win the ball. The officiating crew awarded a penalty kick, and every Otsego fan knows what that means... It was time for Gracie to complete her hat trick. She didn't disappoint as she put a no-doubter past the diving netminder, giving her squad the 4-0 lead.

From that point the result was pretty well sealed, and Otsego added another goal (maybe should have been two depending who you ask) as Kitchen got the endline and slotted a gorgeous ball to Grace for her 4th on the night. Matti Rayman was very strong in net all night making 7 saves and collecting many more crosses before the Wildcats could capitalize on them. 

Otsego host Vicksburg in the battle of the Bulldogs on Wednesday at 6:30pm.