Lincoln blanks East in crosstown match as Dietrich delivers second-half winner
| 1H | 2H | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DES | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| DES | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Des Moines Lincoln earned a 1-0 crosstown conference victory over Des Moines East on Tuesday night, getting the decisive moment in the second half when Amalie Dietrich buried the match’s only goal. Dietrich’s strike, her second goal of the season, gave the Rails the breakthrough they had been chasing after controlling possession for long stretches at East.
Lincoln spent much of the night on the front foot, dictating the flow and repeatedly pushing into the final third. Finishing chances proved difficult to convert, but the Rails stayed aggressive and never drifted from the plan. That persistence paid off after halftime when senior midfielder Gbomi Kayode set up the winner, delivering the assist on Dietrich’s finish in a sequence that finally turned Lincoln’s steady pressure into the only goal it would need.
Several individual efforts helped drive the result. Junior Ashley Flores-Garcia turned in one of her strongest performances of the season, showing the kind of form that stood out across the pitch. Kayode gave Lincoln a strong two-way presence in the midfield, combining solid play with the assist on the game-winning goal. Together, they helped keep the Rails connected and dangerous throughout the match.
On the other end, goalkeeper Katie Strong delivered another clean, composed performance in net. Strong finished with nine saves and preserved the shutout when East tested Lincoln in key moments. Her work in goal, paired with a defensive effort that stayed organized under pressure, ensured Dietrich’s second-half finish held up all the way to the final whistle.
The result was a rewarding one for Lincoln High School in a rivalry setting, especially in a match that demanded patience as much as execution. The Rails controlled the ball, stayed together as a unit, and kept attacking until the opening arrived. When it did, Dietrich and Kayode made it count, and Strong made sure a spirited all-around effort ended with a clean sheet and a conference win.
The Rails move to 2-2-1 and return to action tomorrow night on the road versus Hoover.
