O'Connor gains hat-trick in season-opening win for Hillsboro
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — The Hillsboro Indians opened the '12 season as smoothly as possible Tuesday night as they not only opened the regular season, but the South Central Ohio League season on the winning side of things, defeating the Miami Trace Panthers 5-2, Tuesday at Richards Memorial Field.
HHS (1-0, 1-0) pressured the Panthers for a majority of the season-opening match as they kept the ball near the goal of Miami Trace.
"In the second half, we pressured Miami Trace and Reese (Leibreich) controlled the tempo of the game," Hillsboro head coach John Weber said.
Hillsboro senior Jordan O'Connor led the way for the Indians with a hat-trick, totaling three goals with two coming in the second half.
At the end of the first half, the Indians and Panthers were tied at one goal each.
The first goal of the '12 season for the Indians came off the foot of O'Connor as the senior gained a possession of the ball while in stride and went around 20 yards to near the net, where he sent the ball on a line drive to the back of the net for the 1-0 lead with 25:22 left in the first half. The assist went to Trey Moberly.
Miami Trace tied the score after a couple near misses with 10:13 left in the first.
[[In-content Ad]]"We got somewhat lazy in the last 20 minutes of the first half, but in the second half, we brought the pressure." Weber said. "We did have a couple breakdowns on defense, but overall, I'm pleased with the start of the season."
The Indians regained the lead in the early stages of the final 40 minutes when Moberly sent the ball to the back of the net with the goal wide open, surrounded by two teammates with 37:55 left in the match.
O'Connor obtained his hat-trick with two goals four minutes apart in the second half. He made the score a 3-1 lead when he maneuvered around the defense and sent the ball 25 yards, eventually passing over the leaping goal keeper of MT, leaving 20:22 on the clock. The assist went to Maverick Ward.
His third goal came with 16:21 left in the match, setting the ball up on the left side of the field, then sending the ball 15 yards out, wrapping around the the right side of the net for a 4-1 lead. Following the goal, O'Connor just walked back to the middle of the field, wiping his brow as the goal sealed the win for the Indians.
"Jordan will lead us in scoring this year," Weber said. "I know he'll be double-teamed, but he can still score from any distance."
After MT scored a goal with 15:49 on the clock senior Reese Leibreich made it a three-goal lead with 14:45 on the clock for the final goal of the match.
"Again, I can't stress how well Reese played defensively because without his play in the middle of the field, we don't get the open shots like we had. Reese's play is essential for us to continue controlling the tempo of the game, " Weber said. "Jordan finished, and another defensive player who did great things for us was Brandon Carter.
"If we continue to look like this, we'll have a good season."
HHS will travel to face the Washington Blue Lions in SCOL action on Thursday in Fayette County.
HHS (1-0, 1-0) pressured the Panthers for a majority of the season-opening match as they kept the ball near the goal of Miami Trace.
"In the second half, we pressured Miami Trace and Reese (Leibreich) controlled the tempo of the game," Hillsboro head coach John Weber said.
Hillsboro senior Jordan O'Connor led the way for the Indians with a hat-trick, totaling three goals with two coming in the second half.
At the end of the first half, the Indians and Panthers were tied at one goal each.
The first goal of the '12 season for the Indians came off the foot of O'Connor as the senior gained a possession of the ball while in stride and went around 20 yards to near the net, where he sent the ball on a line drive to the back of the net for the 1-0 lead with 25:22 left in the first half. The assist went to Trey Moberly.
Miami Trace tied the score after a couple near misses with 10:13 left in the first.
[[In-content Ad]]"We got somewhat lazy in the last 20 minutes of the first half, but in the second half, we brought the pressure." Weber said. "We did have a couple breakdowns on defense, but overall, I'm pleased with the start of the season."
The Indians regained the lead in the early stages of the final 40 minutes when Moberly sent the ball to the back of the net with the goal wide open, surrounded by two teammates with 37:55 left in the match.
O'Connor obtained his hat-trick with two goals four minutes apart in the second half. He made the score a 3-1 lead when he maneuvered around the defense and sent the ball 25 yards, eventually passing over the leaping goal keeper of MT, leaving 20:22 on the clock. The assist went to Maverick Ward.
His third goal came with 16:21 left in the match, setting the ball up on the left side of the field, then sending the ball 15 yards out, wrapping around the the right side of the net for a 4-1 lead. Following the goal, O'Connor just walked back to the middle of the field, wiping his brow as the goal sealed the win for the Indians.
"Jordan will lead us in scoring this year," Weber said. "I know he'll be double-teamed, but he can still score from any distance."
After MT scored a goal with 15:49 on the clock senior Reese Leibreich made it a three-goal lead with 14:45 on the clock for the final goal of the match.
"Again, I can't stress how well Reese played defensively because without his play in the middle of the field, we don't get the open shots like we had. Reese's play is essential for us to continue controlling the tempo of the game, " Weber said. "Jordan finished, and another defensive player who did great things for us was Brandon Carter.
"If we continue to look like this, we'll have a good season."
HHS will travel to face the Washington Blue Lions in SCOL action on Thursday in Fayette County.