McVay goal send Indians past JFK
McVay goal send Indians past JFK
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GIRARD -- Girard spent the first half playing timidly. While on their home field, the Indians were officially considered the road team and played like it.
However, they came alive in the second half, scoring twice to down Kennedy, 2-1, in a first-round Division IV tournament matchup.
"I think they just wanted to win tonight," Indians coach Eric Simione said. "At halftime, we talked to them about how they looked like they were playing scared in the first half. I think they were nervous. I think they were worried about possibly this being their last game. Half the team is seniors. Nobody wants to lose their last game on their turf, even though technically they weren’t the home team tonight. They needed to settle down. Coming out right at the start of the second half and getting the equalizer helps. That was a great game. It had to be a fun one to watch. I’m looking forward to watching the film on this one, just because that just looked like a fun soccer game."
Kennedy struck first at the tail end of the first half, with freshman Lyric Shields speeding past Girard’s back line and putting the ball in the back of the net.
The Eagles went into the break with the advantage, but it didn’t last long.
Less than a minute into the second half, the Indians struck back. After a trip in the box, Girard was awarded a penalty kick. Senior Max Erickson took it and delivered a goal, knotting the game at 1.
The teams traded chances for the next 30 minutes. With a hair under 10 minutes left, the Indians pressed at the goal, putting a shot on. The shot bounced off the keeper's hands and Girard freshman Jaxson McVay followed the shot, putting it away for the go-ahead goal.
"That was a wise play to follow on that shot because we had a shot earlier that, if somebody would have followed, it could have happened about five minutes sooner," Simione said. "A great, smart play from a freshman player, and a great effort from the whole team tonight."
Both teams have had seasons marked by notable turnarounds. Girard is coming off a 6-10 campaign last season that served as a warmup for this year.
"We had a very young group, only two experienced seniors. We just knew we weren’t really going to compete last year," Simione said. "It wasn’t terrible, but every game last year we were treating as practice for this year, and that was our message to a more experienced group to come out this year. This is the year that we were playing for. To win 10 games, that hasn’t happened much here at Girard, I think this is only maybe the fourth time that they’ve hit double-digit wins for a season.
"This senior group really wanted that because they went through a lot of misery last year to get to this point, and they put in the work. They played well all year. They beat some good teams. They had some very solid games, and tonight to beat a team like JFK, that was a very strong effort, particularly the second half. Very proud of them."
Kennedy’s is even more stark. The Eagles won just one game last season. This year, they finished with an 11-5-1 record. It’s a testament to the seniors who helped keep the program rolling through a lean year and laid a foundation for the program going forward.
"From where they started out as to where they are now is just lightyears ahead," Eagles coach Brian Stiles said. "It’s something to build on. We’re gonna miss our seniors greatly, who I thought played a great game, but overall it’s something to build on for the offseason."
Girard (10-6-2) will advance to a sectional final matchup against Pepper Pike Orange on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.