Match photos: http://smu.gs/1JWVWUs
Kathleen Vass is happy with how her Bombers are playing in her first year as head coach. “They’re playing smart soccer right now, which is getting us some good wins,” Vass said last week after one of those wins, a 4-0 shutout of Chardon on the road.
Strong defensive play, offensive possession with short passes, and a junior with 14 goals have been the key for this year’s Bombers.
Lexi Neal was moved from forward, a traditional goal-scoring position, to mid-field, and the change has made all the difference.
“We want her around the ball as much as we can,” Vass said. “She has the foot skills, she has a great vision for passing. The team is doing a great job of keeping possession and getting her the ball in dangerous spots.”
Neal agrees with the switch.
“I wasn’t able to do as much with my feet,” said the junior of the forward position.
Neal added two more goals against Chardon.
The Bombers peppered Chardon goal-keeper Brice Karl with lots of shots on goal in the first half. It was only a matter of time before the team broke through.
With 13 minutes before halftime, Maggie Krause scored first, followed by a Neal penalty kick six minutes later. Kenston had a 2-0 lead at halftime, dominating the possession and the shots.
“That’s what we’ve been working on all season,” Vass said.
Kenston put the game away early in the second half on another Neal connection, just 1 minute 2 seconds in. Richelle McGettigan added the fourth goal at the 71-minute mark.
Erica Abbarno leads the defense as a back-row captain. She thinks Kenston is playing as a team and connecting their passes and through-balls.
Neal, Abbarno and their teammates are adjusting to a new conference, the Western Reserve Conference, with larger schools.
“We definitely have taken a better approach this year,” Abbarno said.
The team finished last week at 9-4 and 6-1 in the WRC, good for second place behind an undefeated Mayfield side.
“It’s definitely better than our last conference,” Neal said. “And I think we’re making the transition very well.”
Vass is having fun in her first season after spending three seasons as an assistant coach. “And the girls are working really hard. They are very motivated to win this year. And it’s fun to see them realizing they can play good soccer against good opponents.”
She added: “There are a lot of teams we haven’t seen before. It’s been a challenge to make adjustments on the fly, and we’re happy we’ve been able to compete so far.”
Goalkeepers Julie Hajdu and Hannah Soltay have shored up the Bombers’ back line. Each played a half. And the team added a sweeper and stopper.
Corenna Maynard didn’t take a bad angle or make a poor decision against Chardon. The sophomore was dominant. And Tewksbury joins Abbarno as another outside back. Kellie Ross plays stopper as a junior.
Rachel Pidala is second on the team with four goals and two assists.
The Bombers will take on Nordonia in a home match Oct. 19 in the first round of the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament. If they win, their next Kent district opponent will be Solon at Solon on Oct. 22.
Match photos: http://smu.gs/1JWVWUs