Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by Holzer Health System.
LUCASVILLE — All Kyleigh Mercurio needed was a chance.
The senior forward has spent all season carving defenses and netting one goal after another. But the most important one came on Tuesday, and it has Westfall (13-5) penning history.
With the match scoreless deep into the second half, Mercurio had a free kick from 15 yards out and stuck it into the back of the net to put the Mustangs on the board.
That propelled a wave of energy throughout the final 12 minutes, pushing the Mustangs to put up another goal as they polished off a 2-0 victory over McClain (11-8) in a Division IV district semifinal.
“This was one of the most intense and heavily fought games we’ve played in a while,” Westfall coach George Sauer said. “It was clear during warmups that they came ready to play. They were more afraid to lose more than anything, and they worked so hard to get to this point and win the game. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The best season in school history has another chapter to write. The Mustangs have punched their ticket to a first-ever district final appearance.
“We had two starters out, but we found the right combination of players to move into different spots, and I give them so much credit for playing their role,” Sauer said. “They were willing to be uncomfortable for a chance at something special. That sacrifice has us in a district final for the first time ever.”
For 68 minutes of game time, Westfall’s Carly Atwood was the star of the show.
The more McClain attacked, the better Atwood was. Her ability to instantly react and make the save at every turn, no matter where the ball was going, continued to fuel her team.
PHOTOS: Images from Westfall’s district semifinal win over McClain
She was the puzzle the Tigers couldn’t solve and ended the night 10-plus saves.
“McClain has two really good players up top, so I knew I was going to have to play really hard from the start and couldn’t let anything through,” Atwood said. “My defense did such a great job helping me any time I messed up. Having their support any time a mistake happened really helped keep my confidence high and get me through the game.”
It felt like the game was headed towards overtime until the Tigers were given a yellow card, which set up a free kick.
That’s when Mercurio did what she does best.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
With one strike over the keeper, she gave her Mustangs a 1-0 advantage.
“There were two girls in front of me, and I noticed there was no one on the backside of the net, so it looked really open,” Mercurio said. “Their defense was all to the right side and the goalie was playing up, so I was just hoping to hit that right spot and I did it.”
Four minutes later, Westfall was awarded a corner and on the kick, the ball bounced a couple of times before Addison Wallace got her foot on it for a second goal.
“Rachel [Elder] helped a lot during that sequence, and I knew that the goalie was trying to just hit the ball out instead of catching it,” Wallace said. “Once I saw that, I knew that following up was going to be important, so I just needed to wait for my chance.”
As McClain’s season comes to an end, Westfall advances to a Division IV district final at 6 p.m., Thursday against top-seeded and undefeated Wheelersburg.
That game will happen at Valley High School.
“It’s scary,” Sauer said with a laugh. “We’ve never been here before, and playing a team that just won by eight goals is certainly a task. But we’ll do our absolute best, control what we can and leave everything on the field.”
SPONSORS
KINGSTON NATIONAL BANK
PERFECTION ONE COLLISION CENTER
