Bulldogs' seniors enjoy the last laugh

The Notre Dame girls soccer team looked at ease on Monday night at Central High School.

Despite losing their starting goalie in the first 10 minutes of the game and playing without one of their top defenders, the Bulldogs controlled play most of the game and came away with a 3-1 victory.

"I thought we looked really comfortable out there," Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley said. "We had a good feel for where each other were at and we played the ball real well."

It did not take long for Notre Dame (10-2-1) to assert itself, scoring just four minutes into the game. Amanda Dirnberger took a feed from Lauren Mehner and was able to slip the ball under sliding Central keeper Chelsey Burns.

Notre Dame continued to keep up the pressure in the early part of the game before goalie Katie Palmer's rough collision. Palmer and a Central (9-7) forward collided as each player attempted to make a play on the ball.

"That play was just two players going hard for the ball," Worley said. "It's unfortunate, but what you have to do is step up and deal with it and hope that Katie will be fine."

Central grabbed a little momentum, but the Tigers were not able to capitalize with backup keeper Laura Muir in the net for Notre Dame. Julie Underwood's shot off a free kick harmlessly grazed the crossbar.

"I thought right after their goalie got hurt we controlled play for the next 15 minutes or so," Central coach Tom Doyle said.

But Central's chances were few and far between besides Underwood's free kick, and neither team added a goal before half.

Notre Dame put the Tigers in a hole right out of halftime, though.

Four minutes into the second half, senior Brittney Little scored on a high floating shot. Sierra Ellis assisted.

"You get down there often enough and you hope to get it in any way you can," Worley said.

Notre Dame added another goal with 18 minutes left when freshman Meredith Medlin put home a rebound off Ellis' shot.

The Bulldogs continued to pressure Central, but it would be the Tigers who struck next.

Lindsey Jateff took a shot from a sharp angle which deflected off Muir's hands to Heidi Pilsner, who put the ball away with eight minutes remaining. Central had several more chances late, but the Tigers' effort was simply too little too late.

Doyle said Central simply did not have possession enough to win the game.

"That's the name of the game," he said. "Controlling the ball, that's what I've said from day one."

Notre Dame got a big effort from its seniors, with goals from Little and Dirnberger to go with two assists from Ellis.

"I thought our seniors especially, they all talked about this being their last game against Central and really wanting to beat them," he said. "You could see that out there."

Notre Dame's JV won 1-0.