John Bruce, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — After being whistled for being in an offsides position four times in the first half, Unioto’s Aidyn Danison knew that an adjustment had to be made.
She made that change only 21 seconds into the second half, taking a lead pass from Ellie Myers and making a nifty move to beat the keeper and push her Unioto Shermans to a lead they’d never relinquish in a season-opening win.
Danison ended the night with two goals, which made the difference in a 3-1 final.
Her lead-changing goal in the second half followed a fast start.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
31 seconds into the season, Myers connected with a streaking Sophie Hanes along the right wing. Hanes took the pass, beat her defender and cut to the inside, unloading a hard, right-footed shot into the net for a lightning-quick 1-0 lead.
“I wasn’t expecting it that soon,” Hanes said. “But it really brought the confidence up and really set the tone.”
The Tigers almost responded immediately when Paisley Pryor and Addison Olaker pressured the Shermans’ backline, nearly scoring at the 34-minute mark. But Unioto senior defender Addie Stanger cleared a ball away from the goalline to keep the Tigers off the board.
McClain continued to play well, despite the opening minute gaffe, as center backs Becca Bergstrom and Bailey Parsons kept the Shermans at bay with physicality and a well-played offsides trap.
Senior goalkeeper Leah Lovett contained the only other two shots from the Tanks in the half, while their offense began to pressure Unioto’s sophomore-laden defense.
Finally, with 9:48 to play in the first half, McClain was awarded a free kick from around 20 yards out. Junior Larah Henson stepped up and hit a rocket that beat the Sherman wall and snuck under the crossbar, tying the game at 1-1 going into the break.
Burnt by the offsides trap throughout the first half, Unioto coach Jeremy Clark made an adjustment that immediately paid off for the Tanks. Danison was more precise in her attack, using excellent timing to break the tie at the 39:38 mark, making it 2-1.
Myers and Danison connected again with 34:12 to play in a similar style, but with a much different finish.
The senior took the lead pass from Myers and snuck a low worm-burner that beat a diving keeper. But the shot deflected off the post. Following the ricochet, the ball caromed off the keeper and slowly rolled across the line.
The side official quickly determined that the entire ball had crossed, leading to a Sherman celebration and, eventually, the dagger.
“It definitely felt good, especially that early one,” Danison said. “It just gave all of us confidence. There were a lot of offsides calls. I was starting to get into my head. But knowing it gave myself confidence, and the team, it was amazing.”
McClain continued to press forward in an attempt to get back in the game. But Unioto’s backline of Stanger, Abbie Proctor, Thalia Cruz and Ava Garza kept the attack at bay for the remainder of the contest. The closest the Tigers came to scoring again came off a corner kick, a ball that that sophomore keeper Jillian Mathey collected — one of her sixth saves on the evening.
Any win to open the season is a good win, but even more so for the Shermans, who lost five of their first six contests a year ago.
They finished 9-10 in 2024, marking their first losing season since 2014.
Now, a year older and wiser, Unioto is in the win column to begin the 2025 season.
“There may have been some doubts or worries, but this feels like a completely different team,” Danison said. “We had a losing season last year and that hard. Definitely. But to have confidence so early, it’s going to be a game-changer for us.”
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Half
39:29 — Unioto — Sophie Hanes
9:48 — McClain — Larah Henson
2nd Half
39:38 — Unioto — Aidyn Danison (Ellie Myers)
34:12 — Unioto — Danison (Myers)
STAT BOOK
Shots (On Goal): McClain 10 (7), Unioto 9 (6)
Saves: McClain 3 (Lovett 3), Unioto 6 (Mathey 6)
Fouls: McClain 6, Unioto 11
Offsides: McClain 0, Unioto 6
Corners Won: McClain 3, Unioto 0
SPONSORED BY DR. MARK CONNER FAMILY DENTISTRY
