Girls soccer: Dixon dominant in shutout win over Sterling

DIXON – Like all spring sports teams, the Dixon and Sterling girls soccer teams were excited to be back on the field after missing out on the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Duchesses were definitely eager to get back, and they dominated play in an 8-0 win over the rival Golden Warriors on Thursday afternoon at Sauk Valley Community College.

“We just wanted to get out there, play our game, and come together as a team,” senior midfielder Emma Evans said. “The mindset was to come out here and get the win, play as a team, and also have fun.

“Some people were nervous because it was their first game, but we just kept telling them to stay confident, and we’d be there for them if they needed help. A lot of the younger girls played really well, even better than we expected for the first game.”

Dixon (1-0) got on the board quickly, as Paige Stees founds the back of the net just 2 minutes, 10 seconds into the game. Taylor Harrison got the assist off a free kick, and Stees found the back of the net.

“It was really exciting,” Stees said of scoring the first goal since 2019. “I definitely wasn’t expecting it, but we’re all moving and playing together as a team really well, and it just kind of worked out.”

Harrison scored the first of her four goals 10 minutes later on a breakaway, beating Sterling goalkeeper Jessica White one-on-one for a 2-0 lead. Harrison then turned a corner kick from Abby Goff into a goal with 13:13 left in the half.

Harrison notched her second assist with 9:32 left before the break, teeing up Rylee Pfoutz. Harrison then made it a hat trick four minutes later, sending a kick from Sterling keeper White right back where it came from for a 5-0 halftime lead.

“You always like to win the first game, and to win it like that is even more fun. We just like having an exciting game, and especially getting some players that haven’t played in a while into the mix of things,” Harrison said. “I wanted Rylee to score so bad, and she got one, so that was great. We just like to incorporate our teammates and get the players who don’t usually play into the match as well.”

Harrison scored her final goal on a breakaway in the 50th minute, cashing in on another one-on-one chance with the keeper. A little more than a minute later, Evans got in on the act, turning another Abby Goff assist into a goal with 28 minutes remaining for a 7-0 lead to cut the time left in half.

“I think it was really good for our team, especially because we have a young team, to get this first game out of the way and have it go so well,” Goff said. “I think it will help set the way for us for the rest of the season.”

Evans closed out the scoring with 12:45 to play, finding the back of the net after a scramble for a loose ball in front of the Sterling goal following a Dixon corner kick.

The Duchesses took 37 shots, with 20 of them on goal, compared to zero shots for Sterling. White made 12 saves in goal for the Warriors (0-1).

“Regardless of the score, we’re just happy to be playing,” Sterling coach Alexandra Miller said. “The girls were really looking forward to having a season, because obviously last year they didn’t get to play. We love playing Dixon; we know they’re a great team, and it’s always a great match. Obviously we didn’t get the score that we wanted, but we have a lot of things that we’re working on, and we’ve got a lot to work with.”

“I think we’re definitely excited to all be back on the field together,” senior Ellie Gasso added, “but we’re still working on that team chemistry, and I think we just need to get comfortable on the ball again. Everybody’s a little rusty from not having played.”

Girls soccer

Dixon 8, Sterling 0

Star of the game: Taylor Harrison, Dixon, 4 goals, 2 assists

Key performers: Emma Evans, Dixon, 2 goals; Paige Stees & Rylee Pfoutz, Dixon, 1 goal each; Abby Goff, Dixon, 2 assists; Jessica White, Sterling, 12 saves

Up next: Sterling at DeKalb, 5 p.m. Tuesday; Dixon at Geneseo, 6 p.m. Tuesday