MARION – Ross’ girls soccer team needed some grit Monday night and Haley Guthrie provided it.
The Lady Giants’ senior scored the first two goals of the night which provided Ross with the boost it needed after a long bus ride, taking a 4-0 shutout victory over Marion Harding.
“She played well,” coach Phil Collison said of Guthrie. “She went hard to the ball, scrapped, took the ball away and finished. They were gritty (goals).”
Guthrie’s goals came with 14 minutes through the first half and at the midpoint of the second, with Addison Burmeister getting credited with an assist on the Guthrie’s second tally.
“It was a long ways to go so I think we were a little slow to get started,” Collison said of the team’s first half. “We were unable to capitalize, unable to get any real good combinations going or really settle in with the ball on our feet.
“We controlled the tempo of the match in the first half but were unable to get good connections and unable to get good quality chances.”
Eight minutes after Guthrie made it 2-0, Elizabeth Bloom scored unassisted. Justine Michael later scored on a penalty kick to round out the scoring.
While the offense took some time to get going, Collison was pleased with the defensive play of Michael, Jordan Relford, Kelby Bickley and Sophie Collison, who kept Marion Harding limited to just four shots on goalkeeper Hailey Taylor.
“They played solid, they did real well tonight,” Collison said.
The Lady Giants improve to 6-1 for the season and return to action Wednesday at home against TRAC rival Whitmer.