Spartans top Bulldogs 3-0 in girls soccer

Three first-half goals just minutes apart were all the Spartans needed to dispatch Garfield Saturday in girls soccer as Bainbridge beat the Bulldogs 3-0.

The Spartans went on the attack early, with a shot on goal that fell short less than 15 seconds into the contest.

Bainbridge junior midfielder Natalie Vukic put the Spartans on the board at the 24-minute mark, firing one in from the center of the box just past the left knee of the Bulldog goalkeeper.

Rosie Kerstetter scored next with an assist from Vukic (28th minute) to put Bainbridge up 2-0.

At the 34th minute. Kerstetter dribbled the ball down the right sideline and fed Annie Casey, who booted it in past four Bulldogs.

"They set the tone early," said Bainbridge Coach Scott Druker.

"They came out right away very hard. Everyone was pressuring at the same time, which is one of the things that we talk about all the time."

The Spartans kept the Bulldogs on a short leash all night, and Garfield had few scoring opportunities.

Beyond the early pressure on Garfield, Druker said he liked the mix of the game. The Spartans played smart about when they went to goal, and when they didn't.

But for Bainbridge, the first goal came hard, with several missed opportunities, including one seemingly sure shot that bounced off the crossbar.

Credit the momentum shift to Vukic, and her early goal and her ability to draw in the defense before getting the ball to her teammates, the coach said.

"She was pivotal," Druker said.

The victory puts Bainbridge at 2-0. The Spartans next face Peninsula High on Monday, Sept. 10 in Gig Harbor.

Contact Bainbridge Island Review Editor Brian Kelly at editor@bainbridgereview.com or 1-206-842-6613.

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