LYNCHBURG —The Minford High School girls soccer squad, a senior circuit unit for this season, secured what 11-year head coach Shane Tieman tabbed “a seminal win” for the program.
That’s because the senior-laden Lady Falcons forged a 2-1 win at Lynchburg-Clay on a heat-seeking Saturday —kicking off a season of high expectations with an important non-league win.
After 10 years of trying, Minford finally defeated the Lady Mustangs.
The Lady Falcons are coming off a Southeast District runner-up effort to Fairfield, but are indeed after that coveted district championship this season.
Minford’s Sadie Tieman tallied the tying goal on Saturday, and assisted on the go-ahead and game-winner, which was recorded on a breakaway by standout forward and school record-holder Lexi Conkel — with 33 minutes and 47 seconds remaining.
For Conkel, the Lady Falcons’ record-holder in goals scored in a single season with 49, that particular goal was the 106th of her decorated four-year Minford career.
Her 108th career goal, which could have been scored as early as Tuesday evening at home against Valley, will set the new Lady Falcon school record for most goals scored in a career.
That made it 2-1, as Tieman tied the match with 17 first-half minutes to play —an unassisted marker from outside the top of the 18.
Tieman equalized the Lady Mustangs’ only goal, which was scored only four minutes earlier by Miranda Smith from the 18’s outside corner.
Minford sophomore goalkeeper Addison Lemon made three critical saves.
“We had never come out on top against Lynchburg prior to today’s matchup. Lynchburg is a premier program and Minford will build upon this win,” said Coach Tieman. “Very proud of the grit and physicality today in hot and humid weather.”
The Lady Falcons played host to first-year program Valley on Tuesday.
Wheelersburg 4, Unioto 3
CHILLICOTHE — Wheelersburg sophomore Makenzie Mullens made a corner kick with nine-and-a-half minutes remaining, and the visiting Lady Pirates posted an important 4-3 non-league girls soccer season-opening victory at Unioto on Saturday.
All four Wheelersburg goals were scored by underclassmen — including two by Mullens with the second the game-winning corner, which was the Lady Pirates’ only second-half marker.
With three-and-a-half minutes left in the opening half, Mullens made it a 3-2 Lady Pirate lead —following fellow first-half goals by teammates Ella Hochstetler and Ella McGraw.
In a back-and-forth flurry affair which was tied 1-1 and 2-2 in the first half, and 3-3 with 26:40 remaining, the Lady Pirates never trailed.
The sophomore Hochstetler had the opening goal with 31:44 left in the first, and was assisted by senior Kenzie Piquet.
With 26-and-a-half minutes left in the first half, the freshman McGraw made good on a shot for the 2-1 advantage.
Mullens made her first goal 23 minutes later, and then broke the 3-3 tie with the aforementioned corner kick with nine-and-a-half to play.
Once Mullens made her second goal, it was up to first-year Lady Pirate pitch performer Emma Smith to keep the Lady Shermans out of the net.
She did just that in her first-ever career start —let alone as the Wheelersburg goalkeeper.
Smith made five saves, and turned away several Sherman shots once Wheelersburg went ahead 4-3.
The Lady Shermans’ scoring came courtesy on two Taylor Wellman penalty kicks, and an Ella Pelfrey point with 11 minutes and 11 seconds showing —in the first half for the 2-2 tie.
Pelfrey posted her goal off an assist from Reghan Bee.
Wellman made her first penalty kick with nine minutes and 42 first-half seconds elapsed, and her second with 26:40 to play.
Wheelersburg will return to action in a week —when the Lady Pirates play host to Waverly to open Southern Ohio Conference action on (Tuesday) Aug. 27.
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