Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
SOUTH WEBSTER — The season hasn’t exactly gone the way South Webster figured it would, considering the Jeeps returned nearly every starter from last year’s regional final squad.
Up until Tuesday, the team was still winning games, but it was also looking for that signature victory. But in a marquee league matchup with Minford, South Webster ended that search.
After heading into halftime in a tie ballgame, the Jeeps simply had more gas in their tank on the offensive side. That fact, combined with a stout effort defensively, helped SW earn a 4-2 victory over Minford — ending the Falcons’ 11-game winning streak and handing them a first league loss.
“We possessed the ball mostly throughout the game and created our opportunities incredibly well,” South Webster coach Corey Claxon said. “Scoring four goals is a huge sign for us, considering we’ve had our issues at times finishing goals. Minford likes to play the ball long and it challenged our defense getting back a little bit. But we handled everything so well and this was a complete team win.”
Given that the first matchup was a 2-1 Minford victory, the Jeeps (9-4-1, 5-3 SOC II) understood what Minford (11-2, 8-1 SOC II) was going to throw at them and they were determined to strike first.
They did just that in just 13 seconds.
Brycin McClintic had the ball at midfield, took a dribble and sent a perfect through ball to Brayden Barnard, who finished the shot for a quick 1-0 lead.
Minutes later, though, the Jeeps were whistled for a foul in the box that set up a penalty kick for Minford — one in which Ethan Cordle stuck in the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.
McClinitic, however, was about to put the Jeeps back on top. Off a free kick, the ball was perfectly placed to the back post, where he was waiting to connect with a header to put SW back ahead, 2-1.
PHOTOS: Images from SW’s win over Minford
Yet, the Jeeps couldn’t get out of their own way on the other end. They committed a handball in the box to set up another penalty. The PK was knocked away but it bounced right back to Cordle and he drilled it in to tie the game at 2-2 at halftime.
“We understood how critical of a game this is in the conference, even though we’re out of the conference race,” Claxon said. “There were some instances where we hurt ourselves with some fouls that led to their penalty shots, but aside from that, we were controlling the game. So I liked where we were at because of how we were playing.”
After the break, both teams jockeyed for position as time rolled off the clock, but the night ultimately belonged to South Webster.
Hunter Barnard received the ball up the right side and made a move past a Falcon defender to take the shot. His attempt hit off the keeper’s hands and ricocheted into the back of the net, giving the Jeeps a 3-2 lead.
“Beninah [Andrews] played a really great ball down the sidelines, and I knew if I could just stay composed and on my feet, I felt confident that I could beat the defender,” Barnard said. “I took a hard enough shot right at the goalie. It had a hard pace and because the ball was wet, it’s slipping everywhere and it went right off his hands. Seeing that goal go in gave myself and the team confidence to finish the game.”
Sensing the pressure of trailing late in the game, Minford began to push up and apply heavy pressure on the offensive end. But the Falcons couldn’t get by South Webster keeper Aiden McGraw.
The senior goalie threw his body around with no regard in order to make any and every save, whether it was a pair of diving ones or one that happened at point-blank range, knocking him back, but preventing a goal.
With every save, the Jeeps felt more energized and confident that victory was theirs. Barnard made sure of it when he scored the dagger off a feed from Seth Hughes to cap the night, and the victory.
“Aiden works so hard in practice making saves and working on drills, and it was great to see him make the big saves in the game,” Claxon said. “He’s always been capable of doing it and he had four monster saves when we were just up by one. He changed the momentum for us with his effort and the want to win this game.”
South Webster returns to action on Thursday at home against West, while Minford aims to rebound on Wednesday at home against Zane Trace.
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