The Kenston Bombers girls soccer team claimed their fifth straight Western Reserve Conference title Oct. 11 with a 7-0 victory over the Willoughby South Rebels.
Match photos click here.
The Kenston Bombers girls soccer team claimed their fifth straight Western Reserve Conference title Oct. 11 with a 7-0 victory over the Willoughby South Rebels.
The victory carried extra meaning for the Bombers, as it came on their Senior Night. Kenston recognized its 12 seniors before the game, and their coach, Jonathan Kostoff, acknowledged the hard work they each had contributed.
“They’re just an awesome group that come in to work every day with a super professional attitude,” Kostoff said. “They make it fun, they make our underclassmen feel super welcomed. It’s a program and a senior class that deeply cares about each other.”
The Bombers’ seniors showed off in their final regular season game against the Rebels. Ramsey Smith scored two goals in the game, her first coming off of a corner kick in the first half, the other off of an assist from fellow senior Paige Spicuzza in the second half.
Smith was grateful she and her teammates were able to put together a strong performance on the seniors’ big night.
“It was definitely emotional,” Smith said. “I’ve been playing with these girls for over 10 years, so it was definitely a good win for us and great to play with everyone.”
Smith had hoped to score at least one goal in her final regular season game with the Bombers, but she ultimately doubled her objective.
“I knew I wanted to come in and at least have one goal, so having two was definitely big,” Smith said. “I think it was a good booster for me. … It was definitely a good feeling.”
Jayme O’Neill had two goals in the second half against South, both coming off corner kicks from fellow senior Sophia Cartellone. O’Neill said that her two goals with Cartellone are a good sign for Kenston entering the postseason.
“(My goals) were both off of Sophia Cartellone’s crosses,” O’Neill said. “We’ve been really struggling this year at both attacking and defending corners, so it was just a great feeling to get on the right end of both of those. It helps for the postseason; it just assures our confidence a lot more.”
Both Smith and O’Neill were crucial. Kostoff said he appreciates what they bring to Kenston.
“They’re two of the best players I have ever coached,” Kostoff said. “They’re captains, they’re four-year varsity players, they started every game for four years. They were outstanding tonight, and it’s awesome to see them score goals.”
The Bombers also have lofty goals as they approach postseason play, but their focus is on their next game, a sectional final match against either Geneva or Conneaut.
“We’re just looking for that next game,” O’Neill said. “We take each game one at a time and we’re not looking too far ahead in the future. Every team’s goal is to compete for a state title, and that’s our goal, too.”
Kostoff’s goal for the Bombers is to keep winning so that his players can stay together for as long as possible.
“(Our goal) is winning so that we can keep being together,” Kostoff said, “winning so that we can have another day of practice, so we can keep being together. Obviously, it’s super important to win games, but we’re just going to enjoy the ride.”
