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Oct 17, 2024

Tigers clamp Ironladies for sectional title | News, Sports, Jobs - Marietta Times

Oct 17, 2024 Marietta keeper Leigha Lauer (9) covers up a shot on goal from Jackson’s Sydney Carpenter (9) during a Ohio Division III sectional final, Friday at Jerry Brock Field in Devola. Looking on

Oct 17, 2024

Marietta keeper Leigha Lauer (9) covers up a shot on goal from Jackson’s Sydney Carpenter (9) during a Ohio Division III sectional final, Friday at Jerry Brock Field in Devola. Looking on is Marietta’s Lauren Elliott (20).(Photo by Kerry Patrick)

DEVOLA – It took a full half before members of the Marietta girls soccer team followed the advice of their coach and started pelting the Jackson keeper with shot upon shot during Friday’s Ohio Division III sectional at Jerry Brock Field.

The Tigers scored four second-half goals and defeated the Ironladies 5-0 to lock up a sectional title and advance to next Wednesday’s district semifinal at Logan High School’s Chieftain Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

Marietta coach Bill Mannix was pleased with the effort of his girls leading into halftime. He applauded their efforts passing the ball, but he sensed no one wanted to step up and start firing at the net.

“Sooner or later, someone has to fire on goal,” Mannix said. “We had so many open looks in the first half. The message for the second half was start firing on goal, quit passing the ball.

“We possessed the ball through them a lot, which was great but we weren’t finishing. Everybody wanted somebody else to score. In the second half, we moved the ball around quickly, got the shot and took it.”

Marietta’s Maura Misel, left, takes a shot on goal against Jackson keeper Jaylynn Montgomery during a Ohio Division III sectional final, Friday at Jerry Brock Field in Devola.(Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The approach took effect as Alyssa Baker and Grace Spencer each registered two goals during a 20-minute span in the second half. Baker kickstarted the offense with her first goal seven minutes into the match.

“Alyssa was controlling the midfield – everything was going through her,” Mannix said. “And she had the opportunity to score, which was great. In the second half, she placed a couple of really nice balls and controlled the midfield all night.”

Down just a goal entering the second half, the Ironladies and their leading goal scorer Sydney Carpenter gave the Tigers a major scare. Barely one minute had passed when Carpenter broke free, dribbling from the midfield into the vicinity of the net.

However, Marietta keeper Leigha Lauer vacated the net and challenged Carpenter, who ripped a shot that ricocheted off Lauer and bounced away without any further incident.

“Leigha has led the team as a captain as a four-year keeper — we count on her making saves like that,” Mannix said. “When she shows she will come out and put her body on the line then we all have to put our bodies on the line.”

Marietta’s Colbie Wheeler (10) splits a pair of Jackson defenders – Addison Perkins (7) and Adalyn Stone (15) – during a Ohio Division III sectional final, Friday at Jerry Brock Field in Devola.(Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Baker answered with her second goal at the 34:45 mark and the tide had changed drastically. Beginning at the 21:01 mark, Spencer, who assisted on both of Baker’s goals, kept the scoring spree intact – accounting for two of the Tigers’ next three goals within an eight-minute span.

Sandwiched in between was a goal by Fiona Fowler behind an assist from Caroline Cortopassi.

“I think Grace was being triple-teamed the whole time, which other teams will probably do the rest of the way out,” Mannix said. “So she was really used more of a decoy. She is good enough to get a couple of goals in.”

While Marietta was cushioning the lead, Tiger center-back Meredith Schaad was praised by both coaches and teammates during the postseason huddle for her work on shutting down Carpenter in the second half especially. Schaad covered the Jackson junior like a blanket. Jackson’s main offensive piece was basically a non-factor following her one shot at Lauer in the opening moments of the second half.

“Being a center-back, it’s not about getting the ball — it’s about blocking them and holding them until they have nowhere to pass it, and that threat goes away,” Schaad said. “Eventually they will pull all these fancy moves to try and get around you. If you just sit and defend them, they will eventually mess up and you can get the ball.

“As a team we made an adjustment (in the second half). In the beginning we weren’t aware of what the threat was. We had scouting reports, but we still didn’t know. She was a very respectful player — she was not for talking, but she may have been frustrated a little internally.”

Schaad was one of six seniors dressed for the match against Jackson – seeking to continue their high school careers for at least another match.

“To me, this is about doing it for the rest of our seniors,” Schaad said. “There are seniors who have been at this their whole lives, 13-years plus. And I feel like doing the best I can, and helping the team is what will do that for them.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at [email protected]

SCORINGName, school TD FG 2 1 PTSConnor Lambert, Wahama 29 0 0 0 174Lane Watson, Roane 17 0 3 3 ...