On April 30, the Dodge Point varsity girls soccer team stepped onto the field for what they knew would be one of their toughest tests of the season. Lake Mills, one of the elite teams in Division 4, promised to pose a relentless offensive attack. “This game was a great chance to see where we sit compared to one of the better teams in Division 4,” Head Coach Andy Weber said.
Lake Mills, led by a trio of three skilled attackers, began an offensive onslaught that ultimately led to a Dodge Point defeat 5-0. Weber and the coaching staff analyzed Dodge Point’s performance. “Lake Mills is a great team, and they showed it. We had three great opportunities to get on the board, and we have to finish those. Three of their goals were a combination of luck and us not playing until the whistle.”
Sara Moyle anchored the backline at Center Back and battled Lake Mills’ primary threats. Lilly Houtakker played with veteran composure, stepping into the Center Midfield role to take the place of injured Layla Novak. Lucy Paynter was a human highlight reel, recording 12 saves as the Dodge Point goal keeper.
Dodge Point’s three shots on goal came close, but the ball never found the back of the net. In the final minutes of the game a high intensity barrage of attempts ricocheted between players, but again could not get past Lake Mills’ keeper.
Although the scoreboard reported a loss, the box score told a story of grit and self-discipline. Dodge Point committed only a single foul. The team proved they could go toe-to-toe with the division’s best without losing composure. “Moving forward we will have to clean some things up, but we did learn a lot,” Weber said. “A loss is never a defeat if you learn from it. Knowing this team, we will bounce back.”
Grit and Growth: The United Find Their Rhythm Against Evansville
On May 5, the Dodge Point United girls varsity soccer team battled early to find their rhythm. “We started a little slow,” Coach Andy Weber said. As the minutes ticked by, United’s ball movement sharpened against Evansville, transforming hesitant passes into fluid, intentional attacks. When the halftime whistle blew, a spark had been lit.
The second half saw a different Dodge-Point team emerge. United clamped down on Evansville’s offensive lanes and advanced the ball with confidence. Despite a physical atmosphere that saw Evansville draw multiple fouls and two yellow cards, a self-disciplined Dodge-Point committed just a single foul all evening.
The defensive effort was anchored by Lucy Paynter in goal. She finished the night with nine critical saves. Ahead of her, the backlinebolstered by the vocal leadership of Mal Allen and Sara Moyle-limited Evansville’s chances and forced the play toward the sidelines.
After a clinical finish by Ella Wilson to score for United, Wilson was called upon to sacrifice her offensive role. When Lily Fox went down with an injury, Wilson dropped back into the defense, seamlessly transitioning from goal-scorer to protector. Wilson’s transition from the scoring column to the backline late in the game epitomizes the ‘next player up’ mentality that has defined United this season.
“Ella stepped up big again,” Coach Weber noted, praising Wilson’s ability to contribute on both ends of the field. He also pointed to the rapid evolution of his younger core, noting how Allen and Moyle have developed into reliable defenders while Cat Biddick-who led the team with four shots on goal-has matured in the midfield.
Though the final result of 3-1 wasn’t the win they sought, United left the pitch with their heads up. In a season where they have yet to field their full roster due to injuries and absences, the performance against Evansville served as a testament to their grit.
“I know the outcome was not what we wanted,” said Weber, “but it was a great effort, and I’m proud of how we played.” For this squad, the progress is clear. They aren’t just playing through adversity-they’re growing because of it.