Tigers out-duel Indians
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The match between the McClain Tigers and Hillsboro Indians resembled a heavyweight title fight as both teams took one another's best shot.
In the end, a late surge by the host Tigers allowed them to extend their South Central Ohio League lead as they earned a 4-2 win Tuesday night against the league and cross-county rival at McClain Field.
The first time these two teams met was in Hillsboro, finishing with a 1-1 score, but this time around the Tigers overcame a second-half lead by the Indians, then scored two more goals in the half for the two-goal win.
"This was a very tough game. We knew Hillsboro was going to be tough after the first time we played them," McClain coach Shawn Jackson said. "This was a game between two good teams, and both teams battled until the end.
"We both played all out, and this was an excellent match."
Each team left all they had on the field as the Tigers improved to 7-0-1 in the SCOL and 9-0-1 overall. Leading the SCOL by at least two games in the standings, the Tigers still have four games on the schedule that go towards the league totals with games against London, Washington, Clinton-Massie and Miami Trace.
The loss drops the Indians to 5-4-2 overall. In their past four matches, the Indians have tied against Lynchburg-Clay and lost league matches to Washington, Clinton-Massie and McClain.
On Tuesday, the Tigers took a one-goal lead into halftime with senior Luis Rivas scoring a goal as he kicked the ball from 12 yards out, underneath a diving Corey Walker at the HHS goal for the 1-0 advantage with 22:50 left in the first half.
In the second half, each team used all they had in the tank to put on a high-energy display of soccer, scoring a combined five goals.
Hillsboro senior Brandon Wilson tied the match at 1-1 with 21:52 left in the match, catching the Tiger defense on the ground for the goal.
Wilson wasn't done just yet, as he put the Tribe in the lead with 14:56 left on the clock, with the assist from junior Jordan O'Connor.
Like the Tigers have said all season long about taking it "one game at a time," they did just that on Tuesday, battling back to tie the match in the second half, then taking the lead for good.
Junior Ben Chamblin tied the match with 8:41 left on the clock, kicking the ball from nearly 20 yards away to the right post of the goal to make the score 2-2.
"We have been like this all year. We are the type of team when we get up a few goals, we let up, but when we get down, we turn into a whole different team," Jackson said. "Though I don't like it when we are down, nobody was going to give up. I'm proud of them … I'm proud of both teams."
After a big-time stop from Walker with a one-on-one matchup against Rivas with 6:43 left in the match, Rivas came back and put the Tigers up by a goal with a header, catching the HHS defense out of position for a 3-2 lead.
"We made two simple mistakes, and I'm not even counting the last goal as one of those mistakes," Hillsboro coach John Weber said. "We had a simple breakdown on that third goal between a couple players.
"We are playing to our full potential .. we just had the first-place team in the league on the ropes. Every player out on that field gave 110 percent and played a solid match. To be honest, I felt we outplayed them but just made a couple mistakes."
With 5.5 seconds remaining, senior Sam Henry scored the fourth McClain goal from nearly 20 yards away.
Though there were a combined six goals, the keepers Walker and Ryan Case each made timely saves throughout the match.
Weber was pleased with his team's play overall.
"All-in-all, if we play like this the rest of the way and into the tournament, we'll be fine," Weber said.
The Tigers' match with Blanchester, a non-league match, was rescheduled to Oct. 13 at BHS with a start time of 6 p.m.
McClain is scheduled to travel and take on the London Red Raiders on Thursday, and Hillsboro will host the Miami Trace Panthers on the same night.
BOX SCORE
HHS 0 2 — 2
MHS 1 3 — 4[[In-content Ad]]
In the end, a late surge by the host Tigers allowed them to extend their South Central Ohio League lead as they earned a 4-2 win Tuesday night against the league and cross-county rival at McClain Field.
The first time these two teams met was in Hillsboro, finishing with a 1-1 score, but this time around the Tigers overcame a second-half lead by the Indians, then scored two more goals in the half for the two-goal win.
"This was a very tough game. We knew Hillsboro was going to be tough after the first time we played them," McClain coach Shawn Jackson said. "This was a game between two good teams, and both teams battled until the end.
"We both played all out, and this was an excellent match."
Each team left all they had on the field as the Tigers improved to 7-0-1 in the SCOL and 9-0-1 overall. Leading the SCOL by at least two games in the standings, the Tigers still have four games on the schedule that go towards the league totals with games against London, Washington, Clinton-Massie and Miami Trace.
The loss drops the Indians to 5-4-2 overall. In their past four matches, the Indians have tied against Lynchburg-Clay and lost league matches to Washington, Clinton-Massie and McClain.
On Tuesday, the Tigers took a one-goal lead into halftime with senior Luis Rivas scoring a goal as he kicked the ball from 12 yards out, underneath a diving Corey Walker at the HHS goal for the 1-0 advantage with 22:50 left in the first half.
In the second half, each team used all they had in the tank to put on a high-energy display of soccer, scoring a combined five goals.
Hillsboro senior Brandon Wilson tied the match at 1-1 with 21:52 left in the match, catching the Tiger defense on the ground for the goal.
Wilson wasn't done just yet, as he put the Tribe in the lead with 14:56 left on the clock, with the assist from junior Jordan O'Connor.
Like the Tigers have said all season long about taking it "one game at a time," they did just that on Tuesday, battling back to tie the match in the second half, then taking the lead for good.
Junior Ben Chamblin tied the match with 8:41 left on the clock, kicking the ball from nearly 20 yards away to the right post of the goal to make the score 2-2.
"We have been like this all year. We are the type of team when we get up a few goals, we let up, but when we get down, we turn into a whole different team," Jackson said. "Though I don't like it when we are down, nobody was going to give up. I'm proud of them … I'm proud of both teams."
After a big-time stop from Walker with a one-on-one matchup against Rivas with 6:43 left in the match, Rivas came back and put the Tigers up by a goal with a header, catching the HHS defense out of position for a 3-2 lead.
"We made two simple mistakes, and I'm not even counting the last goal as one of those mistakes," Hillsboro coach John Weber said. "We had a simple breakdown on that third goal between a couple players.
"We are playing to our full potential .. we just had the first-place team in the league on the ropes. Every player out on that field gave 110 percent and played a solid match. To be honest, I felt we outplayed them but just made a couple mistakes."
With 5.5 seconds remaining, senior Sam Henry scored the fourth McClain goal from nearly 20 yards away.
Though there were a combined six goals, the keepers Walker and Ryan Case each made timely saves throughout the match.
Weber was pleased with his team's play overall.
"All-in-all, if we play like this the rest of the way and into the tournament, we'll be fine," Weber said.
The Tigers' match with Blanchester, a non-league match, was rescheduled to Oct. 13 at BHS with a start time of 6 p.m.
McClain is scheduled to travel and take on the London Red Raiders on Thursday, and Hillsboro will host the Miami Trace Panthers on the same night.
BOX SCORE
HHS 0 2 — 2
MHS 1 3 — 4[[In-content Ad]]