In a display of unity, Dodge Point United Varsity Girls soccer team played in Mineral Point on Tuesday this week. Because Dodge-Point United represents a shared roster of athletes from both Dodgeville and Mineral Point, the match was an opportunity to defend Mineral Point’s home turf contrary to usual home matches occurring on the Dodgeville campus.
Mineral Point educators attended the game, showing support for the Mineral Point student athletes on a windy spring evening that added the natural elements to the list of challenges the teams faced. The wind whipped at the corner flags and carried the cheers of a crowd that came prepared with handmade signs and high expectations. Dodge Point rewarded their fans with a 4-1 win putting on a display of unselfish, high-energy soccer that left Galena/East Dubuque searching for answers.
From the opening whistle, it was clear the future of the program had arrived. The stat sheet told a story of youth and rapid development: all four goals and a key assist came from the cleats of sophomores and freshmen. Head Coach Andy Weber described a “monster” performance by Mya Marklein at forward that the Galena defense couldn’t contain. Marklein found the back of the net twice, while Kendallyn Juno and Jessie Solberg-Kieler added goals of their own to keep the pressure relentless.
This offensive clinic was orchestrated largely by Layla Novak. She distributed passes with surgical precision, tallying two assists and keeping the wings in constant motion. Alongside her, Lilly Houtakker and Cat Biddick worked the passing lanes to ensure the attack remained fluid and unpredictable.
But the night wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about the grit beneath the surface. Several United players spent the evening battling through the fatigue of sickness and the nagging ache of injuries. That resilience was mirrored in the defensive half, where Ella Wilson anchored a back line that refused to break.
When Galena did find a gap, they ran straight into a stonewall. Goalkeeper Lucy Paynter put on a definitive performance, racking up seven saves and hitting the 100 mark for total saves this season. The highlight of the nightand perhaps the season – was a breathtaking 1v1 save where Paynter stood her ground, charging down the attacker to preserve the momentum. It was a moment that signaled more than just a save; it looked like a goalkeeper exhibiting total confidence in a kinetic moment.
As the game ended, Head Coach Andy Weber reflected on a group that played with a singular identity. “This is who we are,” he remarked, noting the unselfishness that defined the win. Between the energy of the underclassmen, the veteran leadership of the upperclassmen, and the support from the local fans, it was a night where the “United” in the team’s name felt less like a title and more like a mission statement. For Dodge-Point, the challenge now is to keep that wind at their backs as they move forward to face Columbus on Thursday.