Eaton girls beat Trotwood Madison

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EATON — The Eaton girls soccer team used superior ball control and a sound game plan against Trotwood Madison to win 2-0 in the first round of the Dayton 2 Sectional Soccer Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The first half of the game was very slow moving. Eaton kept the ball on the Rams’ half of the pitch, with three corner kicks and six kicks on goal within the first 30 minutes of the half, while holding Trotwood to zero shots on goal.

The scoreless tie was finally broken at the 6:03 mark, when senior midfielder Mariyah Mckelvin tapped a short kick into the corner of the Rams’ net for a 1-0 lead under tight defensive coverage.

The score remained 1-0 at the halftime break.

“We were really slow early in the game,” said Eaton coach Michael Bacher. “We dominated possession of the ball but it was just slow. But, when we needed to get things done, we sped up a bit and started getting more opportunities. It was just great that despite the sluggish pace, we made use of some of the set-ups for the win.”

“Mckelvin and Jessica Spitler had some beautiful spins on the ball tonight,” Bacher said. “I mean, Mckelvin does a great job of shielding the ball with her body and she finished well as any good striker does. This was a big game for us and she stepped up.”

The second half saw much more aggressive, physical play. Eaton’s second and final goal of the game was scored by senior captain Spitler, who nailed a long kick which sailed just over the hands of the Trotwood goalkeeper, for the 2-0 lead.

The Rams had three shots on goal in the second half, but none produced any points. Eaton in turn had a few more chances to increase the lead but failed to slide any more inside the net.

“On the second goal, Jessica looked up and must have noticed that the goalkeeper was about five yards off the line, so she took the shot and it sailed over her head,” said Bacher. “We tell the girls that if the goalkeeper is up too far from the line and you are about 30 yards away, go ahead and take the shot. Great shot.”

The win moves Eaton into the next round of the Sectional Tournament. They will play on Saturday, Oct. 22, against No. 2 seed Carroll.

“Carroll is a great team — they are solid everywhere in their game and in their roster,” said Bacher. “We played against them a few years ago and they only have two losses on the year. But we are going to get ready and do our best.”

There was a mad scramble for the ball in front of the Trotwood Madison net against the home team Eaton Lady Eagles in the sectional tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/10/web1__DSC3120.jpgThere was a mad scramble for the ball in front of the Trotwood Madison net against the home team Eaton Lady Eagles in the sectional tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Eaton senior forward Mariah Mckelvin (9) kicks in the first half for a goal against Trotwood Madison in the first game of the Sectional Tournament on Tuesday night, Oct. 18. Eaton went on to win 2-0.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/10/web1_McKelvin-goal-kick.jpgEaton senior forward Mariah Mckelvin (9) kicks in the first half for a goal against Trotwood Madison in the first game of the Sectional Tournament on Tuesday night, Oct. 18. Eaton went on to win 2-0.

By Oliver Sanders

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Reach Oliver Sanders at 937-683-4062 or on Twitter @osanders_RH

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