Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
CHILLICOTHE — Both Jade Fair and Maddie Walter got a taste of what scoring on the biggest stage feels like Monday night.
Fair, a freshman, and Walter, a sophomore, combined to score three goals in Unioto’s 6-1 victory over Zane Trace in Scioto Valley Conference action.
CREDIT: Jenny Campbell/SOSA
Walter’s first varsity goal came with 23:20 left in the game, thanks to an assist from teammate Ashtyn Miller, extending Unioto’s lead at the time to 3-0. Her second came with 18:01 remaining, off an assist from Emily Hanes, putting Unioto up 5-1.
“My first goal, [Unioto coach] Jeremy [Clark] had been telling me to aim big and we’ve been practicing on our shots all week,” Walter said. “But I went in, I was just confident, and it went in. I was happy. My second goal, I didn’t even think it went in, but it felt pretty good. Jeremy just keeps telling us to work on the same stuff. So I ran with it.”
Fair’s score was sandwiched in between Walter’s pair. It came with 22:09 left in regulation and while the Shermans held a 3-0 lead. On the play, Fair received a cross, beat a diving goalkeeper and eased the ball into the net.
“That was the first goal of my varsity career,” Fair said. “It’s a really big accomplishment for me. I just have to keep working. As a freshman, it’s hard to step up and follow the upperclassmen. So it’s a really big accomplishment. I’ve been working hard to get that goal.”
All in all, five different Shermans scored in the win.
PHOTOS: Images from Unioto’s 6-1 victory over Zane Trace
VIDEO: Jade Fair, Maddie Walter discuss first career goals
Avery Miller netted the game’s first goal, scoring off an assist from Sophia Garza, and following and a corner kick, with 27:55 remaining in the first half. Brandy Robinson then gave Unioto a 2-0 lead at the 19:09 mark.
Walter and Fair’s first scores followed, and Zane Trace’s Haynna Addy got the Pioneers (4-7-1, 1-2 SVC) on the board with 21:56 remaining, making it 4-1.
Walter then scored her second before senior Kylee Bethel added the game’s final goal, off an assist from Avery Miller, with just 3:27 left.
The Shermans (5-5, 2-0 SVC) are back in action Thursday, hosting Alexander. Zane Trace attempts to bounce back on Sept. 30, at Piketon.
“We just need to work as a team [to beat Alexander], bring each other up and be confident while we get ready for the tournament,” Fair said.