John Bruce, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
LOGAN – You never know when your number is going to get called, but you always have to be prepared.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
When Lynchburg-Clay’s Autumn Wilkin got that call, she made the most of her opportunity, scoring the game-winning goal for the Mustangs with 23:47 left in a 1-0 win over Grandview Heights in Saturday’s Division III regional final.
Wilkin’s goal not only gave the Mustangs (20-1-1) the win, but it lifted the program to its second-ever regional championship — the second such title since 2016.
“Autumn was splitting time this year with golf and soccer and would come to practice when she could,” Lynchburg-Clay coach Dennis West said. “She works hard. She’s one of a dozen of our kids that are always in their spot. There wherever they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there. It pays dividends for us. That’s where Autumn was tonight, and I believe she was unmarked when she scored.”
The seldom-used junior sat for the first 50 minutes of the match before entering and making a historic impact in her ten minutes of game action. The goal came off of a stellar free kick from Kalyn Rich, which hit off the post and ricocheted to Wilkin’s feet, where she calmly put it into the netting to give the Mustangs the lead and, eventually, the victory.
“This group is as fun as any other group of soccer players, girls or boys, that I’ve ever been around,” West said. “They’re just fun to be around. They kid a lot in practice. But when they’re on that field, it’s all business. So it’s a good deal.”
PHOTOS: Images from Lynchburg-Clay’s regional final win over Grandview Heights
In the first half, the Bobcats (15-4-2) had control of the game, but were unable to beat the Mustangs’ Allie Waits. Waits, a sophomore, made two outstanding diving saves on Grandview’s Natalie Smith to maintain the clean sheet.
The Mustangs’ defense of Olivia Van Fleet, Trinity Van Fleet, Ella Barber, and Lainie Lunsford were nails all day for the Mustangs, holding off an outstanding attack for the Bobcats. Aubrey Slack gave great help from her midfield position, flying all over the pitch regardless of her size.
“Our defense has been outrageously good. They just completely surprise you every time,” West said. “We’re the only team now on Grandview Heights’ schedule that has two shutouts against them. That speaks volumes about our defense.”
WIth the wind howling at close to 30 miles per hour, the Mustangs just had to hold down the fort through the first half and take advantage of the gusts in the second half 40-minute period.
Once the sides flipped, the Mustangs controlled the action, using Rich, Karlie Tipton and Jade Massey to pester the Bobcats’ defense, eventually setting up Wilkin’s heroics.
“We defended [Grandview’s] end and knew the wind was supposed to pick up in the second half,” West said. “But we thought if we could get by in the first half [tied or with a lead], we’d be OK. They didn’t take any hard shots at [goalkeeper] Allie Waits. Then, in the second half, the wind helped us defensively. It made life miserable for their offense.”
A bout of illness recently ran through the Mustangs’ program, forcing them to substitute more often. But it led to some big plays off the bench, specifically from Wilkin.
The shutout is the 12th for the Mustangs this season, including their last three matches. As West alluded to, it’s Lynchburg-Clay’s second goose egg this season against the Bobcats, the first coming on Sept. 24.
For Wilkin, it was only her second goal of the year, but the biggest in her life.
By making the most of her moment, the junior striker has the Mustangs playing in the Final 4, where they’ll meet with the winner of Cincinnati Country Day and Kettering Archbishop Alter on Tuesday with a time and place to be determined.
“We’ll need another banner for the gym wall,” West said. “You may not think much about it but it’s monumental for our group. It makes a lot of difference. Our 2016 team did this and they left a legacy. That’s what this group is doing.”
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