Jordan Snarr slipped a shot past the Clinton-Massie goalkeeper late in the first half to lift Wilmington to a 3-2 girls soccer win over Clinton-Massie Thursday at Alumni Field.
The South Central Ohio League win keeps Wilmington in the hunt for a league title. WHS coach said Chillicothe was the preseason favorite with the Lady Falcons No. 2.
“My girls work hard and it’s a joy to see them working together toward common goals,” said Lewis. “We will enjoy this victory, but we will keep our head down and keep on grinding. We’ve got a long way to go to reach our goals, but we’ve got a good start.
“We respect Clinton-Massie and their girls soccer program. They’ve been playing girls soccer at a very high level for the past decade and longer. We’ve been chasing Massie for several years. They’ve produced many great players over the years and they have several outstanding players now such as Sidney Avey, Sam Rice and Courtney Dearing. Those girls can flat out play soccer and I love watching them play.”
CM coach Pat Black said his Lady Falcons can still achieve their SCOL goals but need some help.
“It’s always a battle when we play (Wilmington),” said Black. “We made a couple little mistakes and they capitalized on them. We need some help now but we can still go out and do our part.”
Clinton-Massie is 2-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the SCOL. Wilmington is 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the SCOL.
Savannah Morgan scored in the 6th minute to put WHS on top. The goal came off Drezden Beam’s corner kick.
Mikhayla Carter of Massie tied the match at 1-1 in the 21st minute with a rocket just inside the far post.
But 25 seconds later Morgan countered off Bryan Arehart’s throw-in to put WHS back on top 2-1.
The Lady Falcons kept in control of the ball much of the time, hitting a solid cross bar just moments are Morgan’s go-ahead goal. Finally, Courtney Dearing put the teams back on even terms with a goal in the 27th minute. Bergen Fischer was credited with an assist.
It seemed as though the two teams would go to the break tied at 2. But Snarr gathered the ball in during a scramble in front of the CM net and found the back of the net with Beam recording her second assist. The goal came in the 39th minute of the first half.
During the second half, both teams had chances but the defenses were up to the challenge. Wilmington had a few tenuous moments when players went out with injuries — goalkeeper Megan Borton and defender Katlyn Jamiel. Lewis said Gethsemane Bray, Suzannah Johns and Jenna Victor helped steady the WHS backline.
Lewis said Borton is “a difference maker” but also credited Lyla Self, Borton’s replacement for 2:05, with a big save to preserve the WHS lead.
Lewis also said ailing midfielder Alyssa Lewis was battling injury but “stepped up when we needed her and helped control the middle of the field in the victory.
“Her effort and contributions were outstanding,” said Lewis.
