Jessica Waldschmidt had a pair of goals in Cassopolis’ 3-2 comeback win over Michigan Lutheran Tuesday. (Cassopolis Vigilant Photo/RON HARNER)

The Cassopolis girls soccer team scored in more ways than one Tuesday evening, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Michigan Lutheran Titans 3-2 in the opening round of their district playoffs.

The Lady Rangers (14-5-2) also preserved their unbeaten at home streak to 8-0-1.

The Lady Titans (6-2-1) started out strong, getting goals from forward Kaitlin Weber in the 15th minute and mid-fielder Molly Levi two minutes later. After that point, Ranger goalkeeper Molly Moroz would allow no more goals and the Cass’ offense would come alive.

In the game’s 28th minute, the Ranger’s senior mid-fielders Savannah Sullivan and Meagan Ruff would connect on a pass-and-shot play that would result in Sullivan burying a shot past Titan net-minder Katherine Seidler.

From there, the game would go into halftime with Michigan Lutheran up 2-1.

After the halftime, Cassopolis wasted no time in evening out the score when junior mid-fielder Jessica Waldschmidt slipped past a charging Seidler and finished the shot on an open net.

Waldschmidt was not done there.

Not even 10 minutes after her first goal, Waldschmidt scored on a beautiful shot from beyond the penalty box that bended past the Titan’s keeper into the upper-left corner of the goal post giving Cass a 3-2 lead with 16 minutes to play.

The Rangers would capitalize on Waldschmidt’s riveting goal by playing smart and sound defense the rest of the way out to close out the first round win.

Cassopolis coach Oli Olafsson was visibly and vocally proud of his team’s ability to shake off their sluggish start and make the required plays to win the hard fought match.

“In the first half we were kind of all over the place. I’m not sure if it was nerves or not, but we really seemed to struggle in that half,” he said. “We made no real adjustments at halftime, but we just kind of made the decision that we were going to come out and play harder and smarter in the second half and I think we did that.”

When asked what his team could take away from such a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the playoffs, the Ranger coach had a simple response.

“I think next game the girls will remember they need to play solid both halves,” he said.

The Rangers face Lake Michigan Catholic (16-2-2) in St. Joseph today in the district semifinals. The championship match is set for Saturday at Brandywine.

Division 4 Soccer Districts

Michigan Lutheran… 2

Cassopolis… 3

Halftime Score

Michigan Lutheran 2, Cassopolis 1

First half

ML – Kaitlin Weber 15th minute (Mollye Sievers assist)

ML – Molly Levi 17th minute (Elise Rosenbaum assist)

C – Savannah Sullivan 28th minute (Meagan Ruff assist)

Second half

C – Jessica Waldschmidt 34th minute (Ruff assist)

C – Waldschmidt 44th minute (Janye Butts assist)