Nailbiter loss to Blazers — Lady Dogies battle wind, come up short

The Newcastle Lady Dogies hosted Torrington on April 16, falling just short in a 1-0 contest that was more evenly matched than the final score indicated.

Head coach Cami Willyard said both teams shared possession throughout the match, each finishing with four shots on goal. The deciding moment came early, as Torrington capitalized on a corner kick 14 minutes into the game when the ball bounced around in the box and slipped past the Newcastle defense.

“Unfortunately, they were able to find the back of the net off a corner kick that we were unable to clear,” Willyard said.

Despite the setback, the Lady Dogies created scoring opportunities of their own but were unable to convert, while also battling challenging wind conditions on both halves of the field.

“I was impressed with the play of our back line and improvements they made to take away the middle of the field,” Willyard said. “They did not give up a goal in the run of play.”

Injuries forced some lineup adjustments, including Cheyanne Bloom shifting from midfield to center defender, where she stepped in seamlessly.

“Cheyanne moved back and stepped up to the challenge without complaint,” Willyard said.

Willyard also highlighted several individual efforts, noting Ashlyn Leonard’s ability to control balls out of the air and Zadyn Allen’s impact across the field creating opportunities. Laila Lopez and Carly Purviance each contributed shots on goal, adding to the team’s offensive push.

Goalkeeper Christine Swentesky recorded three saves in the contest.

Looking ahead, the Lady Dogies face a tough test at home against Buffalo on Thursday, followed by another home matchup against Rawlins on Saturday.

“This next week will be a challenge,” Willyard said. “Buffalo is No. 1 on our side, but I feel we will match up well against Rawlins.”

Game stats
April 16 – vs. Torrington: L, 0-1

Shots on goal: Zadyn Allen 2, Laila Lopez 1, Carly Purviance 1

Saves: Christine Swentesky 3