The Kenston Bombers girls soccer team traveled cross-town Oct. 5 to take on its rivals, the Chagrin Falls Tigers.
Match photos click here.
The Kenston Bombers girls soccer team traveled cross-town Oct. 5 to take on its rivals, the Chagrin Falls Tigers.
Over the past few decades, these two soccer teams have had some epic battles on the pitch, and this was one no exception.
The contest was scheduled for a 7 p.m. start, yet due to the weather, the game was delayed 45 minutes before starting.
Once play got underway, a tight defensive battle ensued for the first 21 minutes, both teams held scoreless.
However, the Tigers would score two goals in the last 19 minutes before halftime, then add a goal in the second half to defeat the Bombers, 3-1.
After the contest, Chagrin Falls Head Coach Joe Ciuni talked about the victory.
“It was one that we needed,” Ciuni said. “It was our first home victory; all of our other wins have come on the road.
“It’s a rivalry game, neighborhood rival Kenston. It’s always fun, always a good matchup against them. We were ready to play, and luckily the couple of rain delays didn’t throw us off really. We stayed ready. It was good to see.”
Added Chagrin Falls junior Bella Radomsky, “I think we came out really strong in the first half, and then with all the rain delays, I think we really kept it up throughout waiting. We just brought the intensity today, and I think this is a really good win to come off (of playing) some hard teams like Bay and Rocky River.”
Radomsky, who is the Tigers’ leading goal-scorer, put the Tigers ahead 1-0 when she was able to kick the ball by a sliding Kenston goalie on a breakaway with 18:06 left in the first half.
With 10:14 left in the first half, play was halted by another 30-minute weather delay.
Then, with less than three minutes left in the first half, Brix Niethammer scored to give Chagrin Falls a 2-0 lead.
After the game, Niethammer discussed the goal and the team’s performance.
“I thought today’s game was really good,” Niethammer said. “We’re coming off a couple of hard games against Rocky River and Bay, so I think it was good to put this away and get a win under our belt before the playoffs.”
Niethammer also talked about scoring the goal to put the Tigers ahead 2-0.
“I don’t know who passed it to me, but it was over here and I just kind of used all my strength and I hit it in the left netting,” Niethammer said.
After halftime, Kenston scored on a free kick to make the score 2-1 with 23:26 left in the second half. The free kick from 35 yards out just got by the outstretched arms of the Tigers goalie and into the back of the net.
Chagrin Falls’ Lauren Sutliff then scored the final goal of the match with under 18 minutes left on a corner kick that was headed into the goal.
“I think we really played well and we kept up the energy the entire game,” Sutliff said. “So I think that led us to winning (the game). It’s also a big rival game, so we had the energy the whole game.”
Sutliff also talked about her goal in the second half.
“They sent it in, and I just put my head to it because it was going by — and then, well, it went in,” Sutliff said.
In addition to the three goals scored this night, the Tigers have scored 20 goals on the season.
Radomsky leads the Tigers with eight goals on the season, followed by Niethammer with three and Lindsay Burgess with two.
Leading the Tigers in assists is Burgess, with six so far this season, followed by Ava Chess with five and Radomsky with two.
So far this season, the Kenston Bombers have scored 25 goals and amassed 12 assists.
Leading Kenston this year in goals scored is Reese Cochran with six, followed by Ashlyn Hunter (5), Sofia Macias (4), Annabelle Soltis (3) and Olivia Muzzio (2).
Kenston is led in assists by Cochran (4), Muzzio (3) and Hunter (2).
