McClain boys soccer defeats Miami Trace

GREENFIELD — The McClain boys varsity soccer team, like the girls, had not played a home game since Aug. 29 but turned in one of their best overall performances of the year with a 4-1 victory over Miami Trace on Thursday, Sept. 24. 

The Tigers played superbly both offensively and defensively in the first half when they took a 4-0 lead into the locker room. Gabriel de Simas and Janson Allison both scored two goals each for McClain which would be all the scoring McClain would need the rest of the Frontier Athletic Conference match.

Miami Trace scored their only goal of the night with just 5:38 remaining in the second half on a penalty kick that McClain goalie Eyan Hill blocked, but was put in by another player off the deflection. 

“I’ve not been happy with the amount of goals that we’ve been producing after several close losses,” McClain head coach John Gill said. “So, we moved some different players up front and developed a two-striker attack and it worked almost flawlessly tonight.

“Both of our forwards, Gabriel de Simas and Janson Allison, scored two goals each and I couldn’t be any happier with that.”

Gill continued to talk about his team, especially the defense. 

“In the second half both teams were playing great defensively trying hard to not get scored on and I don’t think either team had very many shot attempts,” Gill said. “All of our midfielders were working hard all night and I was really impressed with them too.

“I told our boys yesterday in practice that wins have to be earned and tonight I think we earned this one.”

McClain will return home Tuesday, Sept. 29 and host Chillicothe starting at 7 p.m.