The Chillicothe Girls’ Soccer season was cut short by DeSales 3-0 at Upper Arlington High School in the D2 Regional Semi-final.
Opportunities were few and far between as the Lady Stallions served up 26 shots on goal to just three by the Cavs.
Chillicothe’s approach was a slower tempo, possession offensive style while DeSales (14-4-2) countered with a high-pressure, very direct attack.
The Stallions scored their first two goals within four minutes in the first half. Alexander Shively sent a corner kick to the mouth of the goal and Alexis Neri put the ball in the back of the net at 22:17. Off another kick from the left corner, Lindsey Bowman put a foot on the kick which sailed behind the Cavs defensive set and it was 2-0 at 18:12.
Cavs coach Zach Breth said it was uncharacteristic of his team. “We gave up probably 8 corners all season, and gave up 8 in the first half and that’ll get ya.”
DeSales attack was relentless, allowing them to control the tempo and break down the Cavs defense.
“We just got beat on a couple of set pieces and one transition goal… that’s the way it goes.”
The Cavs inability to mount an attack led to the Stallions’ keep away approach in the second half. DeSales’ determination was rewarded with a breakaway goal by Megan McCabe at 14:49. Cavs goalkeeper Kaitlyn Cunningham extended her defense and McCabe got around her for an open net for the 3-0 lead.
“It was a faster game, similar to the Pickerington Central game (earlier in the season) the pace was definitely faster than what we’ve seen this season.” said Brerh, who led the Cavs to a 14-4 season.
It was the final game in Blue and White Kasey Crow, Jordan Matthews, Lindsey Schobelock and Baylee Stark who before coach Breth was hired in late July, held team practices and kept the group together during the summer.
If anything, the younger Cavaliers gained some valuable experience with the post season run. Breth added “We only had four seniors and two juniors, you’ve got a lot of underclassmen on the field… the experience of making it to the Regionals, seeing this type of a game, being here, being a part of it should pay off for seasons down the road for sure.”
DeSales advances to the Regional Championship game at Zanesville this Saturday.
