Oct 24, 2024
Marietta’s Fiona Fowler, right, gets consoled by a teammate following the soccer team’s 1-0 loss to Fairfield Union during Wednesday’s Division III district semifinal at Chieftain Stadium in Logan. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
LOGAN, Ohio — Speed kills.
Fairfield Union showcased several players with breakaway speed during Wednesday’s Division III district semifinal at Chieftain Stadium on the campus of Logan High School.
One in particular used it to her advantage and sprinted downfield then maintaining possession with only the Tiger keeper to beat.
At the 16:57 mark of the first half, Maddi Mitchell received a nifty pass from teammate Viv Jones, stayed in the middle of the field then went to the short side between the keeper and the right pole for the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Marietta.
“The girls have had a great season,” Marietta coach Bill Mannix said. “We just couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net. We kind of knew what they might do. They have a couple of fast girls. They launch the ball and outrun us to goal.
Marietta’s Meredith Schaad, left, gets checked out by the head referee after getting fouled during Wednesday’s Division III district semifinal at Chieftain Stadium in Logan. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
“We possessed the ball in the middle of the field and never really got a good shot on goal. The couple of chances we did have went right into the keeper’s hands.”
Marietta closes out the season at 12-5-1. Coach Mannix graduates six seniors, including keeper Leigha Lauer, who sacrificed her body time and time again to keep the Tigers in the thick of the match until the very end.
“The last few times we played Marietta in the tournament, they got that first goal — sometimes when you get that first goal it can go a couple of different ways with how good their goal keeper is,” Fairfield coach Casey Bischof said. “She is freaking amazing. Just to get that one past her, puts you on the front foot instead of trying to find the equalizer against someone as good as that, so it feels good getting that first goal.”
Fairfield Union extended its winning streak to nine straight matches — all by shutouts — and improved to 17-1-1 while advancing to Saturday’s district final.
Falcons’ keeper Maycee Martindill was credited with the clean sheet.
Marietta keeper Leigha Lauer (9) makes a save as Fairfield Union’s Kyle Gasser (6) tries to avoid contact during Wednesday’s Division III district semifinal at Chieftain Stadium in Logan. Following on the play is Marietta’s Meredith Schaad, right. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
“Marietta moves the ball so well and we have speed up top to try and counter that,” Bischof said. “It’s big having that speed and having that ability to run past a good defense.”
Judging from the opening five minutes of the match, Marietta’s scouting report on Fairfield Union was spot on as Mitchell produced several deep runs which resulted in shots directly into the grasp of Lauer.
“You are in every game when Leigha is around,” Mannix said.
Marietta’s first competitive salvo of the first half occurred 15 minutes in when Alyssa Baker side-stepped her defender, which gave her an open look at the net. Baker’s shot from just outside the box tipped off the keeper’s hands.
Moments later with Marietta working deep inside Fairfield Union territory, another shot came directly at Matindilli, who bobbled the ball momentarily before diving forward and smothering before a Tiger arrived for the rebound.
Marietta’s Caroline Cortopassi (2) and Fairfield Union’s Kaeda Miller fight for possession during Wednesday’s Division III district semifinal at Chieftain Stadium in Logan. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
In the final minute before halftime, Marietta caused more chaos in the Fairfield Union box before the ball was finally cleared without incident.
Fairfield Union nearly doubled its lead in the opening moments of the second half. From the left hash marks, Mitchell banged the opposite post with a shot on goal.
Several chances escaped Marietta in the latter stages of the match.With six minutes remaining, Lauren Elliott kicked a floater from nearly 50 yards which had all eyes following its path. The shot, however, sailed just over the crossbar.
From that point, the Falcons tightened up on defense and Marietta was unable to establish a competitive shot.
“The effort was outstanding — everyone who came on the field gave all-out effort,” Mannix said. “We just didn’t execute.
Fairfield Union’s Maddi Mitchell (23) steals the ball from Marietta’s Colbie Wheeler (10) during Wednesday’s Division III district semifinal at Chieftain Stadium in Logan. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
“We have to work on being more aggressive in the box. I think we tend to shy away from contact in the box, whereas other teams they work very hard on finishing.”
RIPLEY AT WAYNE Game time: 7 p.m. Friday Last year’s result: Did not play. Ripley (5-2): def. South …
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