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Nolte scores three leading Beavers
Dorchester wins South-East AA girls soccer semi blanking East Elgin, 3-0
May 23, 2024
By Rob J. Ross
DORCHESTER, Ont. - The Dorchester Beavers are returning to WOSSAA and this year it's the AA level.
Bella Nolte scored three times in the second half as the Beavers blanked the East Elgin Eagles, 3-0, in a Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South-East AA girls soccer semifinal May 22 at the Outdoor Rec Complex.
Scoreless at half, Nolte took over in the second half, aided by Mother Nature.
"It was a lot easier playing with the wind at our backs. It definitely made a difference. It's really hard going against it (first half)," said Nolte. In the first half, we tried to play more defensive and tried to keep balls on the ground. In the second half it was our chance to go."
Nolte certainly did go in the second half and the Eagles couldn't slow the forward.
"It feels good to have gotten the three goals, but it was really a team effort," Nolte said. "My first two were off great assists (Julia Richie) and the last off a rebound. I'm really happy to have gotten the goals, but it couldn't have happened without my teammates."
Keeper Makenna Brown picked up the shutout.
The Beavers move on to the South-East AA final, Monday, May 27 against the St. Joseph's Rams. Dorchester also qualifies for the Western Ontario (WOSSAA) AA tournament, at Athletic Park, Wednesday, May 29 in St. Thomas. The gold match is Thursday, at 10:30 a.m.
Dorchester are back to back OFSAA 1A champions, from 2022 and 2023, but this is the first season at the AA level.
"Within the regular season, it's a lot more of a push and the challenge at WOSSAA will be more than a push than in previous years," Nolte said. "It would be so fun to win a third time."
Dorchester and Parkside tied for first place in the South-East division, both with 4-0-1 records. The Rams (2-3) upended Parkside, 3-2, in the other South-East AA semifinal.
St. Joe's is hosting OFSAA AA in St. Thomas, June 6-8, therefore a second team from WOSSAA will advance to the provincial high school championship.
London Oakridge (4-2) and Stratford St. Mike's (8-1), will join Dorchester and St. Joe's, at WOSSAA.
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