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Redskins run past Huskies

TOO FAST — Indian Creek’s Kelsey Lewis runs with the ball past Harrison Central’s Juliana Rose (front) and Jenna Easlick on Monday. Lewis finished with a goal and two assists in Indian Creek’s 5-2 victory. (Photo by Joe Catullo)

MINGO JUNCTION — The Indian Creek girls soccer team believes and knows for a fact that not many squads can keep up with its speed.

It’s just a matter of positioning itself for scoring opportunities.

“We lost to Steubenville last week, and our position was absolutely horrible,” Indian Creek coach Joe Lewis said. “It was a game of girls kicking the ball around. We practiced that over the weekend and came out with a mindset of possessing the ball. We were going to pass the ball and keep our shape, and they did a very good job of doing that today.”

The Redskins outran Harrison Central for a 5-2 victory Monday evening. Although Indian Creek (7-3-1) was in control for the most part, the Huskies (4-6-1) made its life tough until midway in the second half.

With the score tied 2-2 at the 17:53 mark in the second half, Kelsey Lewis scored on an assist from Ellie Talbott. Two minutes later, Madelyn Yoho scored on a broken play to give the Redskins a 4-2 advantage.

“We had tremendous possession the entire game,” Lewis said. “With 40-plus shots on goal, some of them would eventually get in, so it was just a matter of time. We normally play better in the second half because our girls are faster and fitter. They’ll start wearing the other team down.”

Indian Creek finished with 41 shots on goal, while Harrison had 10. Goalkeeper Britton Positano kept the Huskies within striking distance and tallied 25 saves.

“Britton is a freshman, and she really stands up and plays,” Harrison coach Scott Ward said. “She came up to the varsity level very, very fast. I’m really impressed with her.”

The Huskies needed everything from Positano because they hardly had any time on offense. They also had three girls out when the game concluded.

“I started running out of subs,” Ward said. “I have one starter who is not here because she couldn’t get out of a doctor’s appointment. Then we had another starter go down, and we’re not real deep on our bench. I was flipping some girls around on offense and defense.”

Midway through the first half, Harrison junior Jara Madzia left with a knee injury. Shorty after Indian Creek took a 4-2 lead, freshman Lisa Gross was carted off the field and taken to a nearby hospital after getting hit in the head.

Play was stopped for approximately half an hour. Indian Creek’s Rachel Cooper received a yellow card, but Ward knows it was just an accident.

“They were both going after it at 100 miles per hour,” he said. “Soccer’s a pretty rough sport. I’ve actually coached her (Cooper) in other sports years ago, and she’s going to give you everything she’s got.

“Up until that point (when Gross was injured), we were right with them. It felt like 2-2 for the longest time. Then the wheels started falling off. They have three medalists from track, and we would use that weapon also if we had them.”

Indian Creek got on the board first when Lewis assisted a Yoho goal within the first four minutes. Fourteen minutes later, Harrison senior Juliana Rose connected to tie the score at 1-1.

The Redskins took the lead back when Abby Copeland scored with 12:17 left in the first half. Indian Creek led 2-1 at halftime.

“We have to finish on a lot more of those shots,” Lewis said. “Their goalkeeper was tough. She had 25 saves, so she did a heck of a job. No. 5 (Reanne Brookes) did a great job on a lot balls that would’ve been goals.”

After 14 minutes went by in the second half, Harrison junior Sydney Star tied the game at 2-2 off an assist from Laken Ward.

Not long after Indian Creek scored two goals in two minutes, Payton Gaydosh knocked in an insurance goal off Lewis’ free kick to give the Redskins a 5-2 victory.

“Our claim to fame is fitness and speed, bottom line,” Lewis said. “There’s not a team as fast as our team. We’re working on getting skills better, because that’s got to be there as well, and decision making. But you can’t beat our speed.”

Indian Creek hosts John Marshall at 5 p.m. Wednesday for senior night. Harrison will host its senior night when it welcomes Ridgewood at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Game notes:

¯ Indian Creek goalkeeper Mackenzie Orbin made five saves.

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