By Bryce Hudik
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
SYLVANIA – Perrysburg’s dynamic junior trio of Camille Francis, Emma Ogdahl, and Sophie Mitchell combined for five goals in the Yellow Jackets’ 6-0 Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division victory over Northview in the freshly renovated Cats Stadium Wednesday.
“We’ve been playing together since we were really little,” said Francis. “Us three have been together for so long we just get each other, and where to play, we have a lot of chemistry.”
That chemistry was on full display Wednesday but didn’t reveal itself until the second half. Perrysburg scored just one goal in the game’s first half which came at 10:03. Elyza Byrd set up Mitchell on a cross and Mitchell scored after the pass pinballed off a few Northview defenders.
Perrysburg, in the first half had five corners and 15 shots against the Northview defense, only coming away with the single goal. This was in part because of Ally Biggs, Northview’s goalkeeper, who carded 15 saves for the game.
Also, in part because of the unluckiness of some of the Perrysburg attacks. Several shots narrowly missed finding the back of the net and a few even bounced off the crossbar.
“Their goalie was playing amazingly in the first half. She made six or seven saves off really good shots,” said Perrysburg coach Jorge Diaz.
“That’s just how it goes sometimes. The ball just doesn’t want to go in and you can lose games like that. So, we’re happy things went the way they did.”
The imaginary wall blocking Perrysburg’s shots was lifted in the second half. Francis found the net early at 29:49 sparking a barrage of goals.
Ogdahl scored her first goal soon thereafter with 26:40 remaining. A sleek pass from Francis to Mitchell, who squeaked it past the Wildcat’s goalie at the 17:50 mark, put Perrysburg up by four scores.
“Northview’s a very good team, at the end we just wore them out. We had a moment where we put four goals on them and kind of put them out,” said Diaz.
Senior Sylvia Pennese continued the Yellow Jackets’ scoring barrage with a goal at the 14-minute mark.
Ending the night’s goal scoring was Ogdahl. For her second goal of the night, she drove it up the right side and sent a perfectly placed ball into the left side of the net. The six scores were more than Northview could handle.
“It’s tough, the way Perrysburg plays,” Northview coach Allen Newbold said. “They play with a lot of pace so it’s hard, when we win the ball, to break out and attack. Especially when we hang on to the ball too long, they’re going to get it.”
Perrysburg adds another game to the win column, making them 4-2 on the season (2-1 in league play). Their next opponent is Findlay at Steinecker Stadium next Monday at 7 p.m.
Northview’s next matchup is against powerhouse Anthony Wayne at Cat Stadium next Monday at 7 p.m. Their record on the season falls to 3-2 with a record of 1-1 in the league.
