Indians gain SCOL win over rival Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — First McClain scored twice, then the Hillsboro Indians doubled that total, and once the clock hit the completion of the second half, it was the Indians who were up by one as they defeated their South Central Ohio League and cross-county rival 5-4 Thursday at McClain Field.
The win by HHS puts them at 2-1-2 overall and 2-0-2 in the SCOL. MHS falls to 1-3-1 overall and 1-2 in league play.
"Overall in the first 20 minutes of the first half, we handled the ball well and created passing lanes, but our defense is young with three freshman and just one senior back there," HHS head coach John Weber said. "We do need to clean up some things defensively, so we'll continue to keep working.
"In the second part of the first half, we picked up our play, pressured them, spread the field out and didn't play kick-and-chase ball."
In their second match in consecutive nights, the Tigers scored twice in the first 18 minutes as Ben Chamblin, who kept MHS from gaining a loss the previous match, scored a goal with 34:49 on the first half clock, as he sent the ball to the right side of the net, past a diving HHS keeper for the early advantage.
MHS doubled their advantage with Reid Garrison taking the ball downfield, toward the goal, scoring on a quick one-on-one battle for the 2-0 lead with 28:21 on the clock. The score by Chamblin began with a long kick by Jeremiah Savage.
The two-goal Tiger lead lasted a little over five minutes as Hillsboro's Jordan O'Connor twisted and turned near the MHS goal, eventually sending the ball to the right side of the net for the Indians' first goal.
"We looked good early on, but we stopped talking and communicating to each other, and that hurt us a lot," MHS head coach Jon Chamblin said. "Our kids were tired from playing on short rest, but in the second half, our boys didn't quit, and I'm proud of that.
"This game was a tad bit physical, but it was meant to be played that way … a little out of hand, but again, I couldn't be more proud of my guys."
[[In-content Ad]]
The goal at the 23:06 mark by O'Connor began a run of four consecutive goals in the first half by the visiting HHS team as Trey Moberly tied the match at 2-2 off a pass from O'Connor just past the midway point (18:51) of the half.
Moberly added his second goal of the match with 8:49 left on the clock as he scored near the net off a long kick that began before the midfield mark from Reese Leibreich.
McClain didn't help their cause with 49.7 left in the opening half as they were charged with an own goal as a header sailed in the opposite direction desired, for a halftime lead of 4-2 by HHS.
Henri Nader of McClain inched the Tigers a little closer to the Hillsboro lead when he scored at the 26:16 mark near the net, on a possession that was developed by Cyrus Cross.
The one-goal deficit didn't last long as the Indians scored their fifth and what turned out to be final goal of the match with 12:53 remaining in regulation off a 10-yard kick by Jordan O'Connor.
"In the second half, the intensity wasn't there for us," Weber said. "We had great play from Trey Moberly and Chase Colliver, who made some beautiful passes."
Nader scored McClain's final goal with 7:03 on the clock in a one-on-one situation.
The McClain defense kept it a one-goal deficit, especially off a big-time kick away from the goal by defensive player Kieran O'Hearn.
HHS and MHS don't play again until Sept. 11 following the week off from games due to the Highland County Fair. Last season following the fair week, HHS had some troubles by going 2-5 in a seven-game span.
"Headed into the layoff is big for us," Weber said. "We were in same situation we are in now last season, and that didn't work out too well for us. The stretch after fair week is critical as we need to play well following the fair."
The win by HHS puts them at 2-1-2 overall and 2-0-2 in the SCOL. MHS falls to 1-3-1 overall and 1-2 in league play.
"Overall in the first 20 minutes of the first half, we handled the ball well and created passing lanes, but our defense is young with three freshman and just one senior back there," HHS head coach John Weber said. "We do need to clean up some things defensively, so we'll continue to keep working.
"In the second part of the first half, we picked up our play, pressured them, spread the field out and didn't play kick-and-chase ball."
In their second match in consecutive nights, the Tigers scored twice in the first 18 minutes as Ben Chamblin, who kept MHS from gaining a loss the previous match, scored a goal with 34:49 on the first half clock, as he sent the ball to the right side of the net, past a diving HHS keeper for the early advantage.
MHS doubled their advantage with Reid Garrison taking the ball downfield, toward the goal, scoring on a quick one-on-one battle for the 2-0 lead with 28:21 on the clock. The score by Chamblin began with a long kick by Jeremiah Savage.
The two-goal Tiger lead lasted a little over five minutes as Hillsboro's Jordan O'Connor twisted and turned near the MHS goal, eventually sending the ball to the right side of the net for the Indians' first goal.
"We looked good early on, but we stopped talking and communicating to each other, and that hurt us a lot," MHS head coach Jon Chamblin said. "Our kids were tired from playing on short rest, but in the second half, our boys didn't quit, and I'm proud of that.
"This game was a tad bit physical, but it was meant to be played that way … a little out of hand, but again, I couldn't be more proud of my guys."
[[In-content Ad]]
The goal at the 23:06 mark by O'Connor began a run of four consecutive goals in the first half by the visiting HHS team as Trey Moberly tied the match at 2-2 off a pass from O'Connor just past the midway point (18:51) of the half.
Moberly added his second goal of the match with 8:49 left on the clock as he scored near the net off a long kick that began before the midfield mark from Reese Leibreich.
McClain didn't help their cause with 49.7 left in the opening half as they were charged with an own goal as a header sailed in the opposite direction desired, for a halftime lead of 4-2 by HHS.
Henri Nader of McClain inched the Tigers a little closer to the Hillsboro lead when he scored at the 26:16 mark near the net, on a possession that was developed by Cyrus Cross.
The one-goal deficit didn't last long as the Indians scored their fifth and what turned out to be final goal of the match with 12:53 remaining in regulation off a 10-yard kick by Jordan O'Connor.
"In the second half, the intensity wasn't there for us," Weber said. "We had great play from Trey Moberly and Chase Colliver, who made some beautiful passes."
Nader scored McClain's final goal with 7:03 on the clock in a one-on-one situation.
The McClain defense kept it a one-goal deficit, especially off a big-time kick away from the goal by defensive player Kieran O'Hearn.
HHS and MHS don't play again until Sept. 11 following the week off from games due to the Highland County Fair. Last season following the fair week, HHS had some troubles by going 2-5 in a seven-game span.
"Headed into the layoff is big for us," Weber said. "We were in same situation we are in now last season, and that didn't work out too well for us. The stretch after fair week is critical as we need to play well following the fair."