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BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Bria Rensberger had a goal and assist, and Kelsey Walker and Taylor Navara also scored as the Rochester girls soccer team settled for a 3-3 tie with North Miami in their season opener at the Brent Blacketor Memorial Sports Complex Saturday.
Rochester led 3-0 at one point before North Miami rallied to draw even.
The tie ended a 16-game losing streak. Rochester has not won a game since a 5-0 win over Tippecanoe Valley on Sept. 26, 2022.
That also marked the last time Rochester scored as many as three goals in a game.
Rochester scored five goals total in 14 games in the 2023 season.
“I want them to feel happy yet not satisfied,” Rochester coach Chantal Rensberger said. “So last season we went 0-14. We are really trying to not be 0-14. They should be a little bit disappointed because we had that 3-0 advantage. Right now, I think we’re just a little underconditioned, so I want them to be proud of the effort they put in because three goals was more than we scored the entire season last year. And we had three from three different girls on the field.
“So there are good things I’m seeing – crosses and good shots. And then there are some obvious things we need to work on because we’re young and have a lot of new players.”
Seniors on the team include forward Adalynn Samuels and defenders Audrey Wagner and Skyla Mitchell.
Coach Rensberger said she is working on “the basics” in developing each player. There are 13 players on the team, and Rensberger said players are at various skill levels.
“I feel like Skyla and Izzy Hook and Bria and Taylor and Mylee (Heinzmann), they came to a lot of summer stuff, and they did really work on their individualized skill sets,” coach Rensberger said. “Especially Bria … her strength is trying to get the ball up and over and cross it. And she did a great job doing that. One of the goals was from a corner kick from her, and another goal was from an outside shot from her.”
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