Tigers break away for win over Hillsboro
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — For one half, the rivalry match between the Hillsboro Indians and the McClain Tigers had a look that it was going to come down to the wire. But a second half that was dominated by the Tigers erased any of those thoughts, as they added four goals in the final 40 minutes for a 5-1 win over the Indians.
The victory at McClain Field also saw Juan Rivas score three goals for a hat-trick, with all three goals settling in the back of the net in the second half.
McClain improves to 2-1-2 overall and 2-0 in the South Central Ohio League.
"The first half, we were kind of flat again," MHS head coach Jon Chamblin said. "It seems after 10 minutes we lose focus … we need a good 25 minutes of passing each half."
[[In-content Ad]]The first goal of the match went in favor of McClain, as Reid Garrison scored a goal with 37:08 left on the first half clock.
MHS took the one-goal lead into halftime following both teams pressuring the goal in the final minutes of the opening half. Both defenses made top-notch stops near the net.
The Indians tied the score at 1-1 with 31:54 left in the match as Trey Moberly scored a goal while off-balanced.
Rivas scored the first of his three goals with 28:52 left on the scoreboard on a header for the 2-1 Tiger advantage.
Tommy Henry put MHS ahead by two goals with a goal from 10 yards out with 17:11 left in the match.
Rivas scored the final two goals of the match at 7:02 and 1:10 as the final goal went to the left corner of the net for the hat-trick.
This was also the Tigers' fourth game in six days.
"I told the guys at halftime I wanted four more goals, and that's what they did," Chamblin said. "They responded to what I wanted in the second half, and that's what good teams do.
"Our passing improved, but our defense was shaky at times, and that's not like us."
The loss puts the Indians at 0-3-1 overall and 0-1-1 in the SCOL as they tied with the Washington Blue Lions 1-1, Tuesday at WCH.
"It was a tale of two halves," HHS head coach John Weber said. "We maintained possession for most of the first half, but in the second half, it was McClain.
"We were a bit stagnant, and they were able to get two breakaway goals. We are very young. We start two freshmen on defense, and it is going to be a learning curve all season."
Weber said falling off their first-half pace in the final 40 minutes has been a trend this season.
"For the most part, we played the first half excellent, and the second half was the opposite," he said. "When we lost 7-0 earlier this season, we only allowed two goals in the first half, but allowed five in the second … we can't continue to allow that to happen.
"We need to start playing a full 80 minutes and learn to pass better, because scoring is our second problem. We have to make better passes to improve with our scoring."
With the Highland County Fair next week, the Tigers don't play again until Monday, Sept. 9 against Fairfield in non-league play. HHS plays again on Tuesday, Sept. 10 when they host Clinton-Massie.
BOX SCORE
HHS 0 1 — 1
MHS 1 4 — 5
The victory at McClain Field also saw Juan Rivas score three goals for a hat-trick, with all three goals settling in the back of the net in the second half.
McClain improves to 2-1-2 overall and 2-0 in the South Central Ohio League.
"The first half, we were kind of flat again," MHS head coach Jon Chamblin said. "It seems after 10 minutes we lose focus … we need a good 25 minutes of passing each half."
[[In-content Ad]]The first goal of the match went in favor of McClain, as Reid Garrison scored a goal with 37:08 left on the first half clock.
MHS took the one-goal lead into halftime following both teams pressuring the goal in the final minutes of the opening half. Both defenses made top-notch stops near the net.
The Indians tied the score at 1-1 with 31:54 left in the match as Trey Moberly scored a goal while off-balanced.
Rivas scored the first of his three goals with 28:52 left on the scoreboard on a header for the 2-1 Tiger advantage.
Tommy Henry put MHS ahead by two goals with a goal from 10 yards out with 17:11 left in the match.
Rivas scored the final two goals of the match at 7:02 and 1:10 as the final goal went to the left corner of the net for the hat-trick.
This was also the Tigers' fourth game in six days.
"I told the guys at halftime I wanted four more goals, and that's what they did," Chamblin said. "They responded to what I wanted in the second half, and that's what good teams do.
"Our passing improved, but our defense was shaky at times, and that's not like us."
The loss puts the Indians at 0-3-1 overall and 0-1-1 in the SCOL as they tied with the Washington Blue Lions 1-1, Tuesday at WCH.
"It was a tale of two halves," HHS head coach John Weber said. "We maintained possession for most of the first half, but in the second half, it was McClain.
"We were a bit stagnant, and they were able to get two breakaway goals. We are very young. We start two freshmen on defense, and it is going to be a learning curve all season."
Weber said falling off their first-half pace in the final 40 minutes has been a trend this season.
"For the most part, we played the first half excellent, and the second half was the opposite," he said. "When we lost 7-0 earlier this season, we only allowed two goals in the first half, but allowed five in the second … we can't continue to allow that to happen.
"We need to start playing a full 80 minutes and learn to pass better, because scoring is our second problem. We have to make better passes to improve with our scoring."
With the Highland County Fair next week, the Tigers don't play again until Monday, Sept. 9 against Fairfield in non-league play. HHS plays again on Tuesday, Sept. 10 when they host Clinton-Massie.
BOX SCORE
HHS 0 1 — 1
MHS 1 4 — 5