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Article found at bchssreport.com

Bob Ashby, Lakota West Sports Information Department:
The Firebirds clinched the Greater Miami Conference Girls Championship last night in front of a large cheering section at Steve Cummins Memorial Soccer Park.  This was the last regular-season game for West. Their opponents were current league rivals Oak Hills.  The Highlanders still had a chance to claim a share of the GMC title but needed to secure the win.  This was also the traditional senior night celebration game honoring Jenna Sitarski, Maya Martir, Tori Kelley, Claudia Gibson, Amanda Beerens, Madison Snowden, Vanessa Menchofer, Gabriella Boehm, and Regan Meyer.

By most measures, the Firebirds held the edge in the first half but could do no better than a scoreless tie.  To add to the drama goalkeeper Maddie Prohoska had to come charging off her line to stop a Highlander forward coming in with the ball on a breakaway run and was hit in the face at point-blank range.  Prohaska deflected the ball with her head but dropped to the turf motionless and did not appear to be immediately revived.  After a considerable delay, she left the field and Brooke Brockman came in to take Maddie’s spot in the nets.  Prohaska soon cleared the cobwebs and was able to return in roughly a minute. She completed the shutout with four saves.  Nevertheless, the Highlanders entered the intermission with a scoreless tie, a shot or two on the frame, and hope.

The second half started out with the Firebirds returning with renewed determination.  With 20:31 remaining in the game Jessica Jackson made a corner kick serve that resulted in Camryn Broz placing a header into the back of the net.  Broz, a freshman, playing in the defensive unit, was brought up by coach Reder to give Jackson another tall (5’ 9”) target in the penalty area.  Broz delivered the game-winner which was the first goal of her high school career.

A spectacular Firebird insurance goal came with 9:40 showing on the clock.  Defender Sydney Jones, running at full speed,  met an Oak Hills clearing kick at midfield and drove the ball forty yards on the frame and over the keeper’s upraised arms. This was most probably the longest goal of the year and leaves Sydney behind only Kailyn Dudukovich on the GMC Offensive Leaders list.
This win gives Lakota West their seventh league girls soccer title, but the first since 2004.  Another milestone achievement is that the team becomes the only one (boys or girls, old Lakota, Lakota East, or Lakota West) in Lakota School district history to get through a regular season without a loss.

Now the postseason begins for the girls on the turf of Firebird Field on October 14th,  a 7:00 pm game against Northwest High School.  Coach Reder is now preparing the team for the second season, a potential one and done eight-game trek to the Ohio State Girls Soccer Championship.

2019 OHSAA Tourney Info

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