ADAMS TOWNSHIP — With a 4-4 tie against Clinton-Massie Tuesday night at Frank Irelan Field, the Wilmington High School girls soccer team will play its first league championship in program history Thursday night.
The Lady Hurricane and Lady Falcons battled back and forth but could not determine a winner in the South Central Ohio League match on Senior Night at CMHS.
“Another classic,” WHS coach Kerry Lewis said. “It was a good one. They always are with Clinton-Massie. I’m glad the rivalry will continue next year in the SBAAC. Our matches bring out the best in all of the girls. Coach (Pat) Black always has his girls ready to play us.”
Savannah Morgan had two goals and two assists for Wilmington while Jasmine Jamiel had two goals and one assist. Michelle Huffman also had an assist for WHS.
For Clinton-Massie, Mikhayla Carter, Sadie Carruthers, AJ Houseman and Kelsey Carter scored goals.
“Both teams played well and it was a battle the whole game,” CM coach Pat Black said. “Wilmington is a very good team and is well-coached.”
Clinton-Massie is 7-7-1 overall and 7-4-1 in the SCOL.
Wilmington, who trailed CM 2-0 on Tuesday, is now 7-5-3 overall and 7-1-3 in the SCOL. Hillsboro is 9-2-1 in the SCOL while Chillicothe is 9-1-1.
Chillicothe visits Wilmington Thursday night for a 5 p.m. kickoff.
The Lady Hurricane must defeat the Lady Cavaliers in order to forge a potential three-way tie atop the SCOL, Lewis said.
“What more can you ask for?” said Lewis. “Playing for an SCOL championship the last game of the season at home. Doesn’t get any better than that. We previously tied Chilli 2-2, but we are the underdog. We’ll have to play well to win. We’ve never beaten Chillicothe. We’ve tied them three years straight.”
Lewis said Chillicothe is busing students to the game in order to provide a home-away-from-homefield advantage.
“If you would’ve told me in August we’d be playing for a league championship the last game of season and we played all season without Katlyn (Jamiel, who has been injured), I wouldn’t have believed it,” Lewis admits. “We’re playing with a whole slew of freshmen and sophomores and we’re still going nose to nose with the best teams. We couldn’t be prouder of these young ladies. But we’ve still got unfinished business. We will be the underdog, but we play to win. Just like tonight, our girls will play with great effort on Thursday.”
Since the start of the girls soccer program, Lewis said, Wilmington has never won a league championship.
