Girls Soccer: Hulme sparks Worthington Christian’s win over Grandview
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Worthington Christian’s Kaitlyn Mast (left) and Grandview’s Maci Tew go for the ball Sept. 27. Photo: John Hulkenberg
For more than 25 minutes of action, the Worthington Christian girls soccer team looked like it would be in a defensive stalemate with Grandview Heights.
But like a flash, Madeleine Hulme stole the ball and turned it into a goal and the Warriors added three more in a 5-minute span in the second half on their way to a 4-1 win over the fourth-ranked Bobcats in a Central Buckeye League contest on Sept. 27.
“I think that definitely changed the game,” said Hulme, a junior midfielder. “We started playing more confidently and they kind of got their heads down. We took advantage of that in the second half.”
Hulme’s goal, which came with 14 minutes, 19 seconds remaining in the first half, helped 12th-ranked Worthington Christian notch its third consecutive win over Grandview.
Worthington Christian’s Madeleine Hulme (right) and Anna Meadows celebrate Hulme’s first half goal against Grandview on Sept. 27. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“Natalie Woodfin provided pressure at just the right moment and forced a bad touch by the defender,” Worthington Christian coach Luke Fields said. “Madeleine was there to step in front and off she went. The team is coming together and we’re all having fun.”
Sofia Divine had two shots stopped by Grandview goalie Vivian Chute in a three-minute stretch midway through the second half. That included a leaping save that Chute, who had seven saves overall, tipped off the crossbar on Divine’s shot from about 25 yards out.
But the third time was a charm as Divine buried a shot from the left to extend the lead to 2-0 at the 20-minute mark.
It was the first of three goals in about a 5-minute stretch for the Warriors in a stunning development.
Worthington Christian’s Kaitlyn Mast (left) and Grandview’s Maci Tew fight for the ball Sept. 27. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“(It was) just some mental mistakes. We still have a very young team and we’re trying to learn from that,” said Grandview coach Brianna Dominach, whose team features just four seniors with six juniors, eight sophomores and four freshmen. “Five minutes can change a game.”
The Bobcats (8-1-2, 4-1) hadn’t given up four goals in a game since a 4-2 loss to Bexley on Oct. 5, 2020 – a span of 56 games.
Kaitlyn Mast and Avery Oakley each added goals for the Warriors (11-1-1, 5-0) off assists by Annie Rettstatt and Elle Skidmore, respectively, and Jadyn Stults had four saves.
“Just to come out and show the state that we’re here to compete,” Hulme said. “We want to go far in the tournament this season. It’s a big rivalry (for our school).”
Grandview, which came into the match outscoring opponents 48-6 with six shutouts, got a late goal by Ellie Smith to avoid the shutout.
“It’s always going to be a battle between these two teams,” Dominach said. “It’s expected that (opponents) are going to come hard at us. It’s a tough loss, but hopefully we learn from it and get a rematch come tournament time to show what we’ve learned from this moment.”