GAME PHOTOS: http://bit.ly/2QHdU9V
It was a moral victory for the Chardon girls soccer team Monday night when the team played Mayfield to a 2-0 loss at Memorial Field.
Chardon has been plagued by injuries this season. And against the Wildcats the Hilltoppers were without their best player and goal scorer in Clare Myeroff, a junior, who was recovering from a concussion.
Chardon has missed at least two starters in every game this season.
But despite the home loss, Chardon had opportunities to tie Mayfield in the first half on a shot by Jenna Oriani that went off the far post.
Mayfield’s girls soccer team has won the district championship the past four seasons, and the Western Reserve Conference each year they have been members since 2015.
“We played well,” said head coach Chad Johnston, in his fifth season. “Their first goal was well deserved. That was a great goal. Like I told them at halftime, good teams are going to score good goals.”
Mayfield junior Catherine Rock took a cross with her head and placed the ball perfectly into the back of the net at the 27-minute mark of the first half.
“We had our chances,” Johnston said. “That’s the biggest part of what we’re working on right now — taking advantage of our chances.”
Chardon has now gone three straight games without a goal. But Myeroff is expected to return on Saturday against Geneva.
The roster is balanced throughout.
Senior Alexia Karl played well, pushing the ball forward from her forward position. Leah Baker controlled the midfield when she had help from her teammates. Grace Powell and Holly Stegh were also often around the ball. And defender Megan Mullaly helped keep Chardon in a good shape as team captain.
“My freshman year, I remember them crushing us,” Mullaly said. “So I’m pretty proud of that score.”
Mullaly, a senior, said her team struggled early to play at Mayfield’s speed, but picked up intensity in the second half.
Goalkeeper Hannah Mitchell, a junior who transferred to Chardon last year, was challenged all night but made many impressive saves to keep the Hilltoppers in the match.
“She’s played well for us this year,” Johnston said. “Second half of this season, she’s been phenomenal.”
The game was filmed by GTV and can be watched for free on-demand by visiting www.geaugatv.org.
