BEACHWOOD–Beachwood’s girls’ soccer team played a complete game in defeating Pymatuning Valley, 5-0, on Wednesday in a Division III sectional final.
The fifth-seeded Bison led the sixth-seeded Lakers 4-0 at halftime, thanks to two goals each from Hannah Kahn and Lexi Stovsky. Kahn added another in the second half and the Bison defense recorded a clean sheet for keeper Hannah Cantlie, who made just her second start in goal this season.
“That was a really great game,” said Beachwood head coach Tom Fowler. “We’ve been working on doing a better job of using the field and seeing what our options are and what the other team is giving us. We’re using a little bit more variety as well in our patterns.”
Kahn broke the scoreless tie in the 26th minute when she beat a Pymatuning Valley defender and the Lakers’ keeper to a rebound and punched it into the left corner for the 1-0 lead.
Stovsky scored from a distance seven minutes later to make it 2-0 and the two teamed up for the third goal with 7:06 left in the first half. Stovsky sent a cross in the direction of Kahn, who again found the back of the net.
Stovsky made it 4-0 when she split a pair of defenders then beat the PV goalie.
Meanwhile, the Bison defense kept the Lakers from making any real scoring threat.
“The two forwards up top are doing a great job,” Fowler said. “Our defenders, with three in the back, are doing a great job as freshmen. Our midfield, as always, delivered nice balls for our forwards.”
With starting keeper Zoe Winger sidelined, Cantlie stepped into the net for the second straight game and shut down the Lakers.
“It was nice to have Hannah Cantlie in the goal. She’s a good risk taker and is pretty confident about her positioning,” Fowler said. “She’s a good keeper; a great athlete. She’s usually on the wing for us but she had to step in at keeper. She’s a super athlete. She’s a natural for that position. She has great range and great range. She’s got good hands. She’s got it all.”
The Bison, who improved to 7-10 overall, advanced to the district semifinals to be played at top-seeded Hawken at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 20.
Fowler expects to keep the Bison on the attack against the No. 1 Hawks.
“We’ll approach it the same way we approached this one,” he said. “What’s become really clear this year is that, and it’s a truism, and it’s if you’re not posing a threat all you’re doing is defending. We’ll just come out the way we’re coming out. We’ve got kids that know what they’re doing. They’re organized and disciplined; they’re enjoying the game. We’ll play them straight up and keep the attackers, the credible threat, so they still have to defend.”
