'One game at a time'
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
I have some good news for residents of Greenfield … you have what could possibly be the continuation of what is a three-year span of high-quality high school soccer.
Shhh … don't tell them though, they aren't looking that far ahead. In fact, they are taking this season one game at a time.
It may be an old sports cliché, but know two things … it is working and don't fix what isn't broken.
The two-time defending South Central Ohio League boys soccer champion McClain Tigers are taking a "one game at a time" motto this season, and so far, so good for the defending champions.
Though there is still plenty of soccer to be played this season, the start by the Tiger team can't go unnoticed. MHS has five league contests remaining as they currently sit at the top of the standings, a spot they have become accustomed to in recent years.
In 2011, the Tigers are 6-0-1 in the SCOL and 8-0-1 overall, defeating Lynchburg-Clay and Fairfield in non-league matches; and in SCOL matches, they have defeated each team in the league once (MP twice), except for the Hillsboro Indians, who the Tigers tied 1-1 at Richards Memorial Field.
Again, this Tiger team is taking it one game at a time.
Their league scores are dominant on each side of the field, with results of: vs. London (13-3), at MP (11-0), at HHS (1-1), at Washington (4-2), vs. Clinton-Massie (3-1), vs. Miami Trace (5-0) and vs. MP (9-0).
So far this season, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 56-11 with three shutouts, and they haven't allowed any opponent to score more than three goals in any match against them. In their non-league matches, MHS has wins of 3-2 against LC and 7-2 vs. FHS.
In SCOL matches, the Tiger defense has allowed just seven goals by playing physical (at times) and smart soccer offensively and defensively.
The Tigers have five league matches remaining with a one-game lead headed into next week, where they have four games on the schedule and two going toward the SCOL side of things.
From Oct. 4-11, the Tigers will know what they have to do in order to 3-peat as SCOL champions. In that span, matches against HHS and LHS will have already been decided, and they will be looking at matches against Washington, Clinton-Massie and Miami Trace.
Again, they are taking it one game at a time, and not looking that far ahead into the season.
Their most recent league victory was a 9-0 rout against Madison-Plains on Tuesday night at McClain Field, and coach Shawn Jackson said that is the way his team needs to play every time they take the field.
"We played a very good game," he said. "We had the opportunity to take a lot of shots, and our defense did very well. We played like we should play."
Their biggest match of this coming week is easily against their cross-county rival Hillsboro. They will have an opportunity to increase their league lead against one of their toughest opponents on their schedule, as HHS has two league losses (as of Sept. 22) to the Blue Lions and Clinton-Massie Falcons.
But this season is about one game at a time.
No matter the outcome of next week's league matches against HHS and London, this soccer season has been very competitive, and I for one am looking forward to seeing if the Tigers are able to defend their title once again.
Did you know McClain is taking this season one game at a time?
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
Shhh … don't tell them though, they aren't looking that far ahead. In fact, they are taking this season one game at a time.
It may be an old sports cliché, but know two things … it is working and don't fix what isn't broken.
The two-time defending South Central Ohio League boys soccer champion McClain Tigers are taking a "one game at a time" motto this season, and so far, so good for the defending champions.
Though there is still plenty of soccer to be played this season, the start by the Tiger team can't go unnoticed. MHS has five league contests remaining as they currently sit at the top of the standings, a spot they have become accustomed to in recent years.
In 2011, the Tigers are 6-0-1 in the SCOL and 8-0-1 overall, defeating Lynchburg-Clay and Fairfield in non-league matches; and in SCOL matches, they have defeated each team in the league once (MP twice), except for the Hillsboro Indians, who the Tigers tied 1-1 at Richards Memorial Field.
Again, this Tiger team is taking it one game at a time.
Their league scores are dominant on each side of the field, with results of: vs. London (13-3), at MP (11-0), at HHS (1-1), at Washington (4-2), vs. Clinton-Massie (3-1), vs. Miami Trace (5-0) and vs. MP (9-0).
So far this season, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 56-11 with three shutouts, and they haven't allowed any opponent to score more than three goals in any match against them. In their non-league matches, MHS has wins of 3-2 against LC and 7-2 vs. FHS.
In SCOL matches, the Tiger defense has allowed just seven goals by playing physical (at times) and smart soccer offensively and defensively.
The Tigers have five league matches remaining with a one-game lead headed into next week, where they have four games on the schedule and two going toward the SCOL side of things.
From Oct. 4-11, the Tigers will know what they have to do in order to 3-peat as SCOL champions. In that span, matches against HHS and LHS will have already been decided, and they will be looking at matches against Washington, Clinton-Massie and Miami Trace.
Again, they are taking it one game at a time, and not looking that far ahead into the season.
Their most recent league victory was a 9-0 rout against Madison-Plains on Tuesday night at McClain Field, and coach Shawn Jackson said that is the way his team needs to play every time they take the field.
"We played a very good game," he said. "We had the opportunity to take a lot of shots, and our defense did very well. We played like we should play."
Their biggest match of this coming week is easily against their cross-county rival Hillsboro. They will have an opportunity to increase their league lead against one of their toughest opponents on their schedule, as HHS has two league losses (as of Sept. 22) to the Blue Lions and Clinton-Massie Falcons.
But this season is about one game at a time.
No matter the outcome of next week's league matches against HHS and London, this soccer season has been very competitive, and I for one am looking forward to seeing if the Tigers are able to defend their title once again.
Did you know McClain is taking this season one game at a time?
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]