MATCH PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/2xubJQ0
The Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin girls soccer team made some adjustments then came out and controlled the second half as the Lions earned a hard-fought, 5-3, victory over West Geauga Monday night at West Geauga High School.
The victory lifted NDCL to 7-5 while West G fell to 2-7-2 on the Wolverines Kick for a Cure Night. West G fans impressively raised more then $800 at the match for cancer research.
The Wolverines led, 3-2, at the half and maintained that lead through most of the second half despite the Lions holding possession on the West G side of the field for long stretches.
Second-year NDCL coach Steve Sivik talked about the Lions taking charge late in the second half.
“We changed strategy a little bit, cleaned up our mistakes and took away their opportunities,” Sivik said. “It’s all about playing in the system and playing smart. In the second half we did a much better job. I’m really proud of the girls. They did a great job tonight.”
The Lions scored three goals in a 7-minute span late in the game to take control.
First-year West G coach Kori Chapic said the Wolverines wore down a bit in the second half.
“We’re struggling with numbers this year,” Chapic said. “We’ve already lost two goaltenders. Eventually, it catches up with you. NDCL picked up their game. They’re a great team and their coach did a great job.”
The first was at the 12:42 mark of the second half as Lauren Thomas received a nice through ball, maneuvered past West G goalie Hannah Barker and scored on an empty net to knot the game at 3-3. Thomas, who scored one goal coming into the match, had two against the match against the Wolverines.
“I know it was a big game for us because they knocked us out of the playoffs last year,” Thomas said. “I hoped we’d work together and get the win.
“I got a little frustrated up top, but we kept playing up and took our opportunities.”
The Wolverines defeated the Lions, 2-1, last year in a Division II sectional final.
Sivik has watched Thomas continue to grow this season.
“She’s really a solid player,” Sivik said. “She’s very quick and very aggressive. She’s a sophomore so she’s still learning the position, but she’s playing very well right now.”
Just more then a minute later, Frankie Forte scored her second goal of the match for the Lions as she knocked the ball home after a corner as NDCL took its first lead of the game at 4-3 with 11:19 left in the game.
The Lions put the game on ice when Erica Leinweber scored with just 6 minutes left to play for the final 5-3 margin.
The first half saw plenty of back-and-forth action as the Wolverines scored first. Aubrey Zanella put the ball into the right corner of the net past NDCL goalie Haley Otto after being set up by Jenna Hoeh at 33:09 of the first half for a 1-0 West G lead.
“I think we played well,” Zanella said. “We got wide and used the space well tonight.”
Chapic said Zanella has plenty of potential.
“Aubrey is a freshman with speed and athleticism that is excellent for her age,” Chapic said. “That was a beautiful ball from Jenna. She leads these younger players. That was very well set up.”
It took less then a minute for the Lions to respond as Thomas scored her first goal at 32:25 to tie the game at 1-1.
But the Wolverines came right back with the same duo as Hoeh set up Zanella again with a long through ball. Zanella snuck the ball inside the left post for a 2-1 lead with 28:57 left in the first half.
Again, the Lions responded quickly as a little more then a minute later Forte scored off a corner kick by Marina Hess at the 27:48 mark of the first half to even the score at 2-2.
However, the Wolverines scored again as Hoeh picked up her third assist of the first half. She sent a long ball over the Lion defense to a streaking Nicola Ehrbar who beat Otto for a 3-2 lead that West G took into the half.
“She’s a goal scorer, a fighter, a ball winner and at the end of the game she’s a defender too,” Chapic said. “She’s a fighter and a worker. Her skills are outstanding.”
MATCH PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/2xubJQ0
