Lady Vikes vs. Lake
Tuesday night the Lady Vikings had one goal, literally and figuratively, when they met Lake for the District Semi-Final match at Hoover Field. The one goal, established at the beginning of the season, was to work themselves into a district final game with likely opponent Jackson. Goal accomplished. The literal goal was an assist from Carly Joliat, a high drifting kick to the center for Molly Anderson who punched in the only goal needed to advance. The score came in the first four minutes of the game, allowing the black and orange defensive “picket fence” to shut out every attempt to break through and even the game. The high flying Streak offense was clearly frustrated, players pounding fists into the mud after failed attempts. Goalie Marisa Cotsmire was stellar yet again allowing no ball to cross between the posts. With just over ten seconds remaining in the game, a Blue Streak striker let go of a ball that looked to pass over and into the net, when the Hoover keeper extended her arms and pulled it safely in. The team’s record now stands at 14-2-3 with a chance to claim a district title with a win over Jackson on Saturday.
Lady Vikes vs. Massillon
The Lady Vikings found success in a home game away from home on Thursday night. The first playoff game ended up being rerouted to Massillon, and Paul Brown Stadium, due to untenable conditions at our own home field. The mercury sank, the winds blew, and the rain fell in sheets onto the field and onto the determined Viking squad. The game had an inauspicious start as the Tigers scored from thirty yards out within the first minutes of the game. That’s when our ladies got serious, sending out Madison Helterbran one on one to ram a goal home after some nifty footwork. A second score by Helterbran at the twenty minute mark put the girls ahead for good. By contest end, the senior captain had her second hat trick of the season and junior forward Allie Daniluk recorded her own hat trick with three goals on the night. Carly Joliat had her own fine night assisting on four of the seven goals. The final score ended 7-1 with the seventh tally being added by junior forward Molly Anderson. The most successful Hoover High School team of this year’s fall sports season will play the winner of the game between Green and Lake to be played Saturday night. Our girls will meet in the mud Tuesday night at home for the District Semi-final match.
Lady Vikes vs. West Branch
The last game of the regular season ended well with our Lady Vikes recording a 1- 0 victory over Westbranch. The win improves the season total to 11-2-3, completing one of the best finishes for a Hoover soccer team in the school’s history. The Warriors seemed to have left their fighting spirit at home, leaving senior night for Ashley Thomas, Madison Helterbran, Haley Lefever, Meghan Green, Candice Riley, Lindsey O’Donnell and Carly Joliat a night to celebrate as they played their final regular season game on Hoover Field. The girls were clearly having fun playing the sport they have so enjoyed over their high school careers. The seniors left their mark in the contest by assisting and scoring, Carly Joliat to Madison Helterbran for her 13th goal of the season and the only tally needed to gain a 1-0 win. The girls continued playing dodge ball with the opponent goalies sending twenty-five strikes over two games at the harried (not to be confused with hairy) keepers. The seniors have led the team with grace and character and will be sorely missed by those left to carry Hoover soccer into next season. Next are playoffs! No more needs to be said.
Lady Vikes vs McKinley
What happens when a Viking meets up with a Bulldog in an open field? In the case of Hoover vs. Mckinley, a lot of bad things for the bulldog. Our ladies defeated Mckinley by a lopsided 9-0 count thanks in large part to the efforts of a talented young group of up and coming underclassman, with the experience of some good seasoned players. There was scoring in profusion with goals tallied by Kate Enot, Erin Milligan, Haley Lefever, Paige Lautzenheizer, Kelsey Veldhuizen, Molly Anderson, Sophie Cressman, and two by Madison Helterbran. Five of those goals were assisted by Molly Anderson, Erin Milligan, Taylor Pandrea, and two for Paige Lautzenheizer. The offense battered the opponent end with 17 shots directed at the bedraggled Mckinley keep. Adrienne Sarbaugh recorded her first shutout as a varsity goalie in the victory. The win moves the Vikings to 11-2-3 for the year campaign with one regular season game to play at home versus Westbranch before what is sure to be an exciting Hoover playoff run.
