His team dominated for 90 minutes. 

His team outshot their opponent 27 to 4. 

His team earned their 3rd win of the season to remain undefeated but Ashland Head Women’s soccer coach Danny Krispinsky was still frustrated with his team’s performance in their 2-1 win over the Alderson-Broaddus Battlers.

“When you control a game that much, you have to put a team away. And you can’t let a team hang around and that’s what we allowed them to do. One little mistake there at the end and its anybody’s game,” Krispinsky said. 

Ashland was in cruise control in the first half of action. 

The Eagles went on the attack early and often, racking up 14 shots in the first 45 minutes, a dozen more than Alderson-Broaddus mustered.

Ashland finally broke through in the 23rd minute on their 12th shot of the period. 

Senior Kelsey Dropsey corralled the bouncing ball in the box and deposited into the back of the net to get the Eagles on the board. 

Dropsey’s first goal of the 2014 season gave Ashland a 1-0 lead. 

Six minutes later the Eagles doubled their advantage. 

Freshman Julie Lacock contained a deflection off a corner kick and lofted a brilliant shot over the head of the Battler’s keeper and into the goal from 25 yards out. 

Lacock’s first collegiate goal put Ashland in the lead for good on the night. 

In the second half the Eagles couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities. 

Despite outshooting the Battlers 12-2, it was Alderson-Broaddus who made the most of their few chances. 

In the waning moments of the game, Battler forward Olivia Augustine was fouled in the box leading to a penalty kick. 

The senior, playing just minutes away from her hometown of Mansfield, delivered for her squad converting the penalty kick and causing a tense final minute and 21 seconds for Ashland. 

Krispinsky noted that if his team had taken advantage of their opportunities there would have been no discomfort at the end.

“The thing we have to do is finish our chances.  We created the opportunities but we have to convert on them.” 

“I was happy with our performance as a team but we have to put a team away.”

Despite the tense finish the Eagles did improve to 3-0 on the young season. 

Up next for Ashland will be a date with GLIAC south foe Ohio Dominican at Ferguson field on Sunday September 21st. 

Coach Krispinsky, in his second season at the helm for Ashland, believes that the goal of this season’s team is to build upon last year’s 10-6-2 record and trip to the GLIAC tournament semifinals.

“Our goals that we set at the beginning of the year are very high. Certainly higher than what accomplished last year.”

Krispinsky has a unique blend of experience and youth on his roster. 

Coach Krispinsky was busy in his first full off-season on the recruiting trail adding 14 new faces to the squad, including 13 freshmen. 

Those new comers join 13 returners, including six starters from the 2013 team. 

Despite the 13 holdovers from last season, only four seniors lead the team meaning that plenty of underclassmen will see the field.

After three games its almost an even split between upperclassmen and underclassmen as in who have tallied goals for AU. 

Four underclassmen, including  freshmen, have scored a goal for the Eagles while three upperclassmen, including two seniors, have found the back of the net for Ashland. 

 “It’s been great managing this group of girls,” Krispinsky said.  “They are all hungry and they all want to play, which is great to see as a coach.” 

Krispinsky notes that chemistry still needs to be built. 

“We are still working on how to gel as a team, trying to find those personal connections that we are looking for but we have come together really well so far in this young season and I am happy with the progress we are making.”