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WITH TWO WINS ON THE WEEKEND, BAVARIAN UNITED SC TOOK CONTROL OF LAKE MICHIGAN DIVISION

Published Jun 21, 2022
Written By:  Joe Chatz
             ​Central Region Contributor

Bavarian United SC took control of the Lake Michigan Division over the weekend, capping off its two matches with a 3-1 win over Chicago Dutch Lions FC Sunday evening at Wheaton College in Illinois.
 

Despite controlling the run of play in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, Bavarian United was unable to garner any real chances in front of Chicago’s goal as much of the match was played in the neutral third.
 

Bavarian finally broke through in the 36’ minute when Hailey Block took a right-footed strike from just inside the penalty area that beat Chicago keeper Molly Fischer to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.


Bavarian nearly doubled its lead before the half after Alexis Baker broke away from the Chicago defense before a Lion defender made a sprawling tackle to keep the match at 1-0 at halftime.
 

The second half had both sides coming out the gate firing, with Chicago getting two shots on goal in the first five minutes that were saved by Bavarian keeper Parker Donahugh. Those saves were enough to hold off the hosts before Bavarian’s Rachel Dallet scored in the 56’ minute to make it 2-0.
 

Despite the two-goal deficit, Chicago wouldn’t relent. Lions’ captain Sarah Hagg played a free kick quickly in the 68’ minute to Piper Biziorek who made a run past two Bavarian defenders before taking a shot inside the penalty area and causing Donahugh to fully extend herself in mid-air to make the save.
 

Moments later, however, Chicago’s Abby Kalou tapped in a shot from close-range to cut the Bavarian lead in half in the 69’ minute.
 

Bavarian again made it a two-goal margin in the 80’ minute after Marisa Grzesaik’s cross found Alex Campana to increase the scoreline to 3-1. However, the match did require one more heroic save from Donahugh.
 

In the 89’ minute, Hagg took a free kick quickly from just outside the penalty area that was heading for the far corner before Donahugh again made a sprawling save to her right, ensuring her club’s 3-1 win.

 

“I knew she was going to put it in one of the top corners,” Donahugh said post-match. “I just knew, I was like, ‘I just gotta get ready for this.’ I have worked on getting those high balls because I am a little bit shorter, so I’ve been working on reaching up for those high balls and making those key saves at the end of the game.”

 

Bavarian United now has 16 points after six matches played and lead FC Milwaukee Torrent by a single point in the Lake Michigan Division race. Donahugh, who made five saves in the match, is confident in her side’s ability at the moment. “I think we’re all performing at our top level and really getting a good groove together and having good chemistry on the field.”