Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WAVERLY — In a span of three minutes on Thursday night, Fairfield went from floating on cloud nine to smashing a major panic button.
Lynchburg-Clay was doing everything possible it could to send a Division V district championship game into overtime — and nearly pulled it off.
But the night and, more importantly, the district crown, ultimately belonged to the Lions (13-6).
Despite a late Mustang rally, Vivian Henninger’s hat trick was enough for Fairfield fend off the Mustangs and win its second-ever district title with a 3-2 victory over its SHAC rival.
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
“This is a team that really came together as the season went on, and fought for each other as much as they did for themselves,” Fairfield coach Jacob Alexander said. “It’s a really neat thing to see when it goes from a group of individuals to a team, and I couldn’t be happier for these girls to have this moment.”
From never having won a district title in school history to winning its second in three years, it’s safe to say that Fairfield has arrived.
“All of us seniors couldn’t be more excited or proud of our teammates,” Fairfield’s Sophie Humphrey said. “This was a true team game and we couldn’t have done it without everyone. It’s such an awesome feeling.”
It didn’t take long for Henninger to get the night going. 32 seconds, actually.
Fresh off the first touch, Henninger received a pass and created an opening to fire, connecting with the right side for the goal for a quick 1-0 lead.
The next 39:28 were spent in a back-and-forth battle with each team logging just one shot attempt, but nothing crossed the line.
Henninger had to wait a little longer than 32 seconds in the second half for her next goal. But not much.
PHOTOS: Images from Fairfield’s district championship win over Lynchburg-Clay
Less than two minutes in — 1:26 to be exact — she got the ball at the 40 and it was a foot race to the goal. With a 1-v-1 chance, she fired and struck the back of the net, extending the lead to 2-0.
“I like to think I’m pretty fast,” Henninger said, with a smile. “But we’ve worked a lot in practice on our through balls, executing them and hustling on to those opportunities. So it was really awesome to connect.”
With time working against them, Lynchburg-Clay (7-9-3) was scrambling to find any type of offense.
But Henninger wasn’t finished yet.
With 18:34 left, she raced up the left side of the field and her first shot hit of an LC defender. But the ricochet came right back to her and her second shot didn’t miss, completing the hat trick for a 3-0 count.
The seconds continued to tick away and, although it appeared the Lions were about to coast the way of the rest, the Mustangs still had some life.
With 8:40 left, a scramble in the box for the ball ended with Caraline West finding the net to bring the deficit to 3-1.
Two minutes later, the Mustangs applied more pressure and this time, Lily Ferguson struck the goal to make it a 3-2 game with 6:45 left.
“I know [Lynchburg-Clay coach] Dennis [West] has said before that they have struggled to score this year, but it’s still Lynchburg-Clay,” Alexander said. “Dennis is one of the best coaches in Ohio, and that is a team filled with athletes. They’re going to battle and come back somehow because that’s what they do.”
Now that all momentum was with the Mustangs, all eyes were on the Lions’ defense to see if they could hold on.
The Mustangs did log a couple more shots, but Meri Jackson was there to make the save in between the pipes, including one in the final minute to fend off the rally and secure the Lions’ spot in the Sweet 16.
“We fell apart a little bit and things definitely got rocky in the final 10 minutes,” Henninger said. “I’m a loud mouth on the field and there were a lot of things I was saying, but I think we all realized we have to pick it up. That 10-second countdown was everything. Everyone had huge smiles on their faces and it was such an epic and special moment.”
While the Mustangs see their season end, Fairfield advances to a Division V regional semifinal at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Lancaster High School against Milford Center Fairbanks, a 1-0 winner over Grandview Heights.
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