After a scoreless 40 minutes, Franklin County’s girls soccer team found an offensive thrust in the second half and beat Centerville 4-0
“At halftime, we made a few small adjustments on positioning and focused on simple passing in the final third,” said Franklin County coach Cindy Adams. “The Wildcats broke the game wide open in the second half.”
Jordan Nichols scored the first FCHS goal on a penalty kick after being taken down in the box. Thirteen minutes later, Centerville was called for handling in the box. Kamryn Dozier took the PK and snuck it in under the keeper’s hands. It was 2-0.
After substituting keeper Liz Wendell, Maegan Pearson made a splash in just seven minutes of field play. She played a split pass through the defensive line and connected with Dozier who used speed to keep possession and drill it in the opposite corner. The Wildcats now led 3-0. Then with just two minutes left in the game, Pearson shot from outside and slipped the ball in between the keeper’s legs to put the Wildcats on top 4-0.
Pearson and Wendell each recorded one save on the night. Both keepers have recorded three shutouts so far this season according to Adams.
“In addition to the success with the forwards, the Wildcats had a strong possession game with excellent shot and long attempts,” stated Adams. “Erica Weaver and Bethan Melugin were particularly smart and accurate. One of the second half adjustments was to pinch the outside midfielders to disrupt passing lanes. Morgan Stewart, Madesyn Sunderhaus, Kylee Bolser and Lillian Ralph did an excellent job with the spacing.”
The Wildcat head coach noted the defensive back line swallowed up any attack made by Centerville and allowed only three shots on goal.
“Claudia Mauntel, Kaitlyn Brunemann, Maddie Merritt and Dani Bulach were nearly unstoppable,” Adams added. “What makes the defense so strong, is the bench strength we have. Defenders Lily Knapp, Paige Ashcraft, Audrey Weaver and Mackinzie Brzezinski were fast, tough and effective.”:
Bulach had five corner kicks which Adams said were the best corners her team has taken all season.
“She is one heck of a ball striker,” Adams noted. “We are knocking at the door of scoring from a corner kick.”
While Adams said the entire team played a great match, their Player of the Game award went to Kamryn Dozier for her “unselfish and unadulterated drive to win games regardless of who scores and where the credit goes.” Dozier had two goals and was a big part of the 24 shots on goal recorded by the Wildcats.
We thank coach Adams for the information.