Tigers battle for win over Lions in season opener
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — The McClain Tigers overcame having one of their top players injured early in the match to gain a season-opening win on Monday evening by defeating the Fairfield Lions, 1-0.
The win by the Tigers was offset by seeing junior Johnny Free injured 10 minutes into the season opener, as the senior collided with a player from Fairfield when both players were going after possession of the soccer ball.
Free, who is a three-year player for the Tigers, had to be transported for his serious leg injury by a ambulance. He was surrounded by his teammates following the injury and was given a round of applause by those in attendance, as the injury occurred around the 30:23 mark of the first half.
“It was sad to lose Johnny Free right off the bat,” McClain head coach Jon Chamblin said. “He is a third-year player, and we are going to miss his action up front. He contributed quite a bit, and we’ll miss him tremendously.”
The lone goal of the Tigers came from Brock Dean in the later part of the first half for what ended up being the game-winning goal.
“It was a win, but it was an ugly win,” Chamblin said. “I don’t know if we had first-game jitters or what, but we had a ton of kids out of position, but we do have a lot of new faces this year. Our offense isn’t quite clicking just yet, but we’ll get there.
“We have a lot of team speed, and that helps out a lot. Overall, we have a lot of athletes, but not skilled soccer players like we should have.”
The defense of the Tigers did stand out for the Tigers, as the unit didn’t allow a goal in the non-league match.
“I’m happy with the defensive shutout, and we have a couple new faces on defense who played well, and I’m happy with that,” Chamblin said. “Landree Gray (a junior) was one of the anchors of our defense from last year, and he played a great game.”
Besides the only goal of the match, there was a lot of excitement in the physically played match between the two Highland County schools separated by around 15 miles.
Fairfield keeper Zach Drabik (who had at least 10 saves) made an outstanding save at goal to keep the MHS lead at one with around 3:00 left in the first half, and the Lions missed an opportunity to tie the score late in the first half, as they were unable to connect on a penalty kick opportunity.
“We are inexperienced, but this was our first time getting the team all together really, and going 1-0 with a team the quality of (McClain), it says a lot about the character of this team. I’m really excited about the season,” FHS head coach Jacob Alexander said. “I saw a lot of leadership from Jesse Current, and Zach Drabik saved us many times back at goal … many times.
“From last year to this year, it is amazing (the FHS defense). The way we improved from last year to this year, it says a lot about the training from the guys this offseason. The guys gave a lot of effort.”
In the second half, there were a total of three yellow cards issued, and with 4:00 left in the second half, the Lions missed another chance to tie the score on a second penalty kick chance.
With the time ticking away late in the second half, both teams continued to apply heavy pressure, but Gray made a timely stop with his defensive play, and with around 2:00 left in the match, the Tigers’ defense came up strong again by keeping the ball away from their goal with part of that defense from freshman Griffin Foltz.
Again, Gray made another defensive stop before it could get to the goal for MHS with 30 seconds left in regulation, and McClain’s Mat Barton, a senior, didn’t let the Lions shoot a final shot as time expired with his defensive pressure.
At goal for the Tigers was Camden Yates with the shutout.
The next game for the Tigers (1-0) will be on Tuesday (Aug. 23), as they host the Wilmington Hurricane in South Central Ohio League play. MHS will follow that with another SCOL match on Thursday (Aug. 25) vs. Clinton-Massie, with both games being played at McClain Field.
Fairfield (0-1) is scheduled to play again on Tuesday (Aug. 23) in a non-conference match at Southeastern. On Friday (Aug. 26), they will play in their Southern Hills Athletic Conference opener at Peebles.
The win by the Tigers was offset by seeing junior Johnny Free injured 10 minutes into the season opener, as the senior collided with a player from Fairfield when both players were going after possession of the soccer ball.
Free, who is a three-year player for the Tigers, had to be transported for his serious leg injury by a ambulance. He was surrounded by his teammates following the injury and was given a round of applause by those in attendance, as the injury occurred around the 30:23 mark of the first half.
“It was sad to lose Johnny Free right off the bat,” McClain head coach Jon Chamblin said. “He is a third-year player, and we are going to miss his action up front. He contributed quite a bit, and we’ll miss him tremendously.”
The lone goal of the Tigers came from Brock Dean in the later part of the first half for what ended up being the game-winning goal.
“It was a win, but it was an ugly win,” Chamblin said. “I don’t know if we had first-game jitters or what, but we had a ton of kids out of position, but we do have a lot of new faces this year. Our offense isn’t quite clicking just yet, but we’ll get there.
“We have a lot of team speed, and that helps out a lot. Overall, we have a lot of athletes, but not skilled soccer players like we should have.”
The defense of the Tigers did stand out for the Tigers, as the unit didn’t allow a goal in the non-league match.
“I’m happy with the defensive shutout, and we have a couple new faces on defense who played well, and I’m happy with that,” Chamblin said. “Landree Gray (a junior) was one of the anchors of our defense from last year, and he played a great game.”
Besides the only goal of the match, there was a lot of excitement in the physically played match between the two Highland County schools separated by around 15 miles.
Fairfield keeper Zach Drabik (who had at least 10 saves) made an outstanding save at goal to keep the MHS lead at one with around 3:00 left in the first half, and the Lions missed an opportunity to tie the score late in the first half, as they were unable to connect on a penalty kick opportunity.
“We are inexperienced, but this was our first time getting the team all together really, and going 1-0 with a team the quality of (McClain), it says a lot about the character of this team. I’m really excited about the season,” FHS head coach Jacob Alexander said. “I saw a lot of leadership from Jesse Current, and Zach Drabik saved us many times back at goal … many times.
“From last year to this year, it is amazing (the FHS defense). The way we improved from last year to this year, it says a lot about the training from the guys this offseason. The guys gave a lot of effort.”
In the second half, there were a total of three yellow cards issued, and with 4:00 left in the second half, the Lions missed another chance to tie the score on a second penalty kick chance.
With the time ticking away late in the second half, both teams continued to apply heavy pressure, but Gray made a timely stop with his defensive play, and with around 2:00 left in the match, the Tigers’ defense came up strong again by keeping the ball away from their goal with part of that defense from freshman Griffin Foltz.
Again, Gray made another defensive stop before it could get to the goal for MHS with 30 seconds left in regulation, and McClain’s Mat Barton, a senior, didn’t let the Lions shoot a final shot as time expired with his defensive pressure.
At goal for the Tigers was Camden Yates with the shutout.
The next game for the Tigers (1-0) will be on Tuesday (Aug. 23), as they host the Wilmington Hurricane in South Central Ohio League play. MHS will follow that with another SCOL match on Thursday (Aug. 25) vs. Clinton-Massie, with both games being played at McClain Field.
Fairfield (0-1) is scheduled to play again on Tuesday (Aug. 23) in a non-conference match at Southeastern. On Friday (Aug. 26), they will play in their Southern Hills Athletic Conference opener at Peebles.