McClain Tigers shut out Indians; gain season sweep
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GREENFIELD — The McClain Tigers used all aspects of their game, and many members of their roster, to soundly defeat the Hillsboro Indians on Thursday night by a 6-0 score at McClain Field, and in the process earned another Frontier Athletic Conference victory.
The Tigers scored early, led at halftime and didn’t allow a goal the entire match to win over the Indians, which gave the host Tigers the two-game season sweep over their Highland County rival, Hillsboro. Also, McClain did not allow a goal to the Indians this season, and the Tigers have won their past five matches against Hillsboro.
"I'm definitely, definitely happy. We definitely had solid play. Hillsboro, they’re a solid team. They’re a good team. We knew we had to come out heavy to win this game. We had to come out ready to score,” MHS head coach Nick McNeal said. “The kids came out and did exactly what they were asked to do. Off the ball movement was great tonight, much better than what it has been the past couple games. That’s what we have to do in soccer.
“Something a lot of kids need to understand is there’s 20 other field players out there, two goalkeepers — chances are you’re only going to be on the ball five percent of the game. What you’re doing the other 95 percent of the time is important, and the kids really took hold of that tonight. They moved off the ball well, they communicated well, they made those runs, and that’s what got us opportunities and we finished our opportunities. Very happy with the play, and it feels good getting a win like this going into tournament time.”
On Thursday night at McClain Field, the Tigers scored two goals within the first 20 minutes of action with Jase Allison scoring twice for the 2-0 lead. McClain added to the lead for a three-goal advantage with 27:12 on the clock, as Haydon Hice put the ball in the back of the net with the assist to Braeden Bergstrom.
“Jase (Allison) did great for us tonight with those two goals, two early goals as well,” McNeal said. “He attacked the ball. That was huge. The aggressiveness toward attacking the ball, I think, is what really won the game for us.”
The three-goal lead at halftime by the Tigers turned into a six-goal win after the final 40 minutes of play ticked away, as Bryson Badgley scored three goals in the second half for the hat trick. Badgley’s goals came with 26:58 left in the second half, and with 23:45 and 11:51 on the clock.
“Bryson, I’m so proud of that kid. This is his first year playing, actually. He is a great athlete. I remember his first goal against Logan Elm. It was a really good goal because we let them back in it, and they scored a goal, then Bryson just thumped one into the back of the net against them. It was great,” McNeal said. “From that point on, he’s learned how to make solid contact with the ball. Anytime he goes for a shot, he goes for solid contact, and it makes a huge difference. He puts something on the ball every time. He’s getting more aggressive. He’s been coming a long way and keeps getting better every game. A hat trick is huge. That’s the first hat trick (for McClain) of the season. That’s a huge accomplishment.”
Also for the game, Allison had one assist, while Bergstrom collected five assists in the win. At goal in the shutout for the Tigers was Noah Reeves.
McClain now stands at 9-3-1 overall this season. They are next scheduled to play on Saturday, Oct. 10 at home in a non-conference game at 3 p.m. From there, the Tigers will be on the road on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Westfall (7 p.m.), and the regular season wraps up on Thursday, Oct. 15 at home vs. Waverly (7 p.m.).
The Indians fall to 2-11-2 overall. They have one regular-season game remaining, a non-conference showdown with Clinton-Massie on Monday, Oct. 12 at home.
The Tigers scored early, led at halftime and didn’t allow a goal the entire match to win over the Indians, which gave the host Tigers the two-game season sweep over their Highland County rival, Hillsboro. Also, McClain did not allow a goal to the Indians this season, and the Tigers have won their past five matches against Hillsboro.
"I'm definitely, definitely happy. We definitely had solid play. Hillsboro, they’re a solid team. They’re a good team. We knew we had to come out heavy to win this game. We had to come out ready to score,” MHS head coach Nick McNeal said. “The kids came out and did exactly what they were asked to do. Off the ball movement was great tonight, much better than what it has been the past couple games. That’s what we have to do in soccer.
“Something a lot of kids need to understand is there’s 20 other field players out there, two goalkeepers — chances are you’re only going to be on the ball five percent of the game. What you’re doing the other 95 percent of the time is important, and the kids really took hold of that tonight. They moved off the ball well, they communicated well, they made those runs, and that’s what got us opportunities and we finished our opportunities. Very happy with the play, and it feels good getting a win like this going into tournament time.”
On Thursday night at McClain Field, the Tigers scored two goals within the first 20 minutes of action with Jase Allison scoring twice for the 2-0 lead. McClain added to the lead for a three-goal advantage with 27:12 on the clock, as Haydon Hice put the ball in the back of the net with the assist to Braeden Bergstrom.
“Jase (Allison) did great for us tonight with those two goals, two early goals as well,” McNeal said. “He attacked the ball. That was huge. The aggressiveness toward attacking the ball, I think, is what really won the game for us.”
The three-goal lead at halftime by the Tigers turned into a six-goal win after the final 40 minutes of play ticked away, as Bryson Badgley scored three goals in the second half for the hat trick. Badgley’s goals came with 26:58 left in the second half, and with 23:45 and 11:51 on the clock.
“Bryson, I’m so proud of that kid. This is his first year playing, actually. He is a great athlete. I remember his first goal against Logan Elm. It was a really good goal because we let them back in it, and they scored a goal, then Bryson just thumped one into the back of the net against them. It was great,” McNeal said. “From that point on, he’s learned how to make solid contact with the ball. Anytime he goes for a shot, he goes for solid contact, and it makes a huge difference. He puts something on the ball every time. He’s getting more aggressive. He’s been coming a long way and keeps getting better every game. A hat trick is huge. That’s the first hat trick (for McClain) of the season. That’s a huge accomplishment.”
Also for the game, Allison had one assist, while Bergstrom collected five assists in the win. At goal in the shutout for the Tigers was Noah Reeves.
McClain now stands at 9-3-1 overall this season. They are next scheduled to play on Saturday, Oct. 10 at home in a non-conference game at 3 p.m. From there, the Tigers will be on the road on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Westfall (7 p.m.), and the regular season wraps up on Thursday, Oct. 15 at home vs. Waverly (7 p.m.).
The Indians fall to 2-11-2 overall. They have one regular-season game remaining, a non-conference showdown with Clinton-Massie on Monday, Oct. 12 at home.