SIDNEY — Sidney’s girls soccer team beat Miamisburg by one goal in a Greater Western Ohio Conference crossover match a month ago but couldn’t replicate that performance in a Division I sectional semifinal on Saturday.
Miamisburg scored a goal late in the second half to beat Sidney 1-0 and advance to a sectional final against Centerville next week. The No. 6 seed Yellow Jackets finish 12-5 overall.
Sidney had several shots in the first half but none got by Miamisburg sophomore goalkeeper Alex Miller, who recorded her 10th shutout of the season. She had eight total saves on Saturday.
“It’s hard to beat someone twice, but we had five or six long opportunities (in the first half) to get one in and we just couldn’t get one in the back of the net,” Sidney coach Kevin Veroneau said.
The Vikings had most of their 11 shots on goal in the second half and kept Sidney sophomore goalkeeper MaKayla Hurey busy. They scored with 22 minutes left when freshman Jordyn Barr scored on an assist from sophomore Alisa Arthur.
“They got the ball in a dangerous position there and were able to deflect one in off a corner kick,” Veroneau said. “In a game where both teams are evenly matched, that kind of thing is the difference.
“… We knew they liked to possess the ball and take long-range shots. We weren’t too worried about their long-range shots because we knew they’re not that effective, but what they did really well was their possession. What we tended to do when we got the ball was panic and give it away. Kudos to them for really doing a good job keeping the ball.”
Veroneau also credited Miamisburg’s defense for containing Sidney senior Elaine Wiesenmayer and sophomore Khia McMillen, who are among the GWOC’s offensive leaders.
Wiesenmayer leads the 20-team conference this year with 30 goals, while McMillen leads in assists (28). Wiesenmayer is second in assists (18), while McMillen is tied for seventh in goals (14).
Though the Yellow Jackets couldn’t improve on last season’s 14-3-2 campaign in which they made a district final for the first time in school history, Veroneau said there was much improvement in other areas. He said the team scored 12 more goals than last year and gave up 50 fewer shots.
“The midfield production increased by threefold too,” Veroneau said. “Overall, even though the record doesn’t show it, it was just as productive, if not more productive, than last year. There’s so many areas you can take positives.
“Unfortunately, every team but one has to finish with a loss, and the girls would have liked another opportunity against Centerville. But you have to win these type of games to get that opportunity.”
Sidney, which lost 2-1 at Centerville earlier this month, will lose four seniors to graduation.
