Perfect Finish: Delaware Rising Completes Undefeated Regular Season
Delaware Rising made its long-awaited return to the pitch Sunday afternoon, welcoming North FC for the conclusion of the Northern Ohio Soccer League (NOSL) regular season.
The contest marked Rising’s first competitive match in 21 days and its first inside the City of Delaware since a 9-0 victory over Firelands United on May 31.
Both teams prepared for battle under the harsh July sun, with the air temperature approaching 87 degrees at kickoff. The artificial turf pushed the surface temperature another 10 to 15 degrees higher, creating challenging conditions throughout the afternoon.
Before kickoff, both teams observed a moment of silence in honor of Toby Forsythe, a Gahanna native and goalkeeper who was killed in a traffic accident during the early morning hours of July 5.
While the soccer community is vast, it remains a close-knit one. The loss resonated throughout the local game, as many players either knew Toby personally or were connected to someone affected by his passing.
North FC controlled possession early, looking to establish an advantage. Delaware quickly settled into the match, however, and began dictating the tempo. Rising enjoyed much of the possession throughout the opening half while limiting the visitors to sporadic counterattacks. The defensive pairing of Myah Byers (Marietta) and Kendra Kovacs (Capital) repeatedly snuffed out North FC’s attacking opportunities before immediately helping launch Delaware’s attack.
The breakthrough came just after the 20-minute mark. Midfielder Ashley Green (Wittenberg) threaded a perfectly weighted through ball from the near side to Lindsay Castillo (IU Indy), who calmly finished for the match’s opening goal.
Following a much-needed hydration break, Delaware continued to press for a second score.
That insurance goal arrived in the 41st minute from a set piece.
Kindall Duke (Western Michigan) delivered a corner kick into the box, where her sister, Kasey Duke (Capital), powered a finish into the back of the net to double Rising’s advantage.
After halftime, Delaware continued searching for a third goal. Rachel Austin (Capital) tested the North FC goalkeeper multiple times, but the visiting keeper stood firm to keep the deficit at two.
Drama unfolded in the closing moments.
With seconds remaining, North FC broke into the attacking third, prompting goalkeeper Ella Schwertfager (Otterbein) to charge off her line. Schwertfager reached the ball first and collided with the attacker in what appeared to be a clean but physical challenge. The center official disagreed, pointing to the penalty spot.
North FC converted the penalty, sending the ball to Schwertfager’s left to cut the deficit to 2-1 just before the final whistle.
While the late penalty was controversial, it did not change the result. Delaware Rising secured its seventh consecutive victory, completing an undefeated regular season, and earning the No. 1 seed heading into next week’s NOSL playoffs, where it will face Ohio City.
DRFC by the Numbers
Delaware enjoyed a varied offensive attack as five players score two goals or more to give the club 27 goals on the season. The aforementioned Castillo finishes with four goals on the campaign, she’s followed by Natalie Dye (Detroit Mercy), Kasey Duke (Capital), and Lindsey Whitmore (Otterbein) with three tallies. Avery Miller (Queens) had two goals this summer.
Ella Fuller (Eastern Michigan) paced the club in assists with three. While Dye, Ally Curtin (Otterbein), Haylee Prime (Missouri S&T), and Kasey Duke (Capital) had two each.
Goalkeeper Sally Patton (Loyola-Chicago) had 10 saves, while Schwertfager had nine.