On a warm sunny evening from Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium, the Lady Hornets soccer team hosted Savannah in a Midland Empire Conference meeting. The Lady Hornets entered 2-4 overall but 2-1 in the MEC, while Savannah held a 3-2 record with this being their first conference game of the year.
Chillicothe opened the match aggressive, earning the first corner kick of the game. Savannah defended the set piece and both teams were scoreless through the first dozen minutes. Then in the 13th minute, Savannah’s Taylor Hilsabeck slipped a pass into Erin Larson near the penalty spot, Larson settled the ball then turned and struck it with her left foot across her body into the net on the near post. Larson was a focal point offensively for the Lady Savages, in the 22nd minute, she took a shot from deep that was parried away by Chillicothe’s goalkeeper Layla McKinnis, however the shot rebounded directly into the path of Maggie Shirrell who finished on the rebound. With Savannah leading 2-0 and under a minute to play in the half, a near identical situation ensued. Larson tried again from a long way out, this time McKinnis attempted to make the catch, the ball bounced out of her grasp, with Taylor Hilsabeck crashing hard, she got to the ball first and tapped it in to put the Lady Savages ahead 3-0 at the break.
Less than five minutes into the 2nd half, both teams had near chances. Charlee Hibner took a long range effort with the Savannah goalkeeper out of position that floated beautifully over a trio of defenders heads, only to be denied by the near post, within inches of providing the Lady Hornets first goal of the night. Minutes later Savannah also had an effort that skimmed the upright. Then in the 51st minute, Hilsabeck added her 2nd goal of the game for Savannah when she had the ball deflect directly to her in front of goal for a calm finish.
Chillicothe never let up, even down four goals. Five minutes later in the 56th minute, Sophie Hurtgen won a foot race against the Savannah back line, tracking the ball down in front of the on rushing keeper Schyler Hall. Hurtgen was able to slide the ball around Hall and into the back of the net, putting the Lady Hornets on the board.
The goal gave Chillicothe extra momentum and produced the best spell of play for the Lady Hornets through the remainder of the game, but neither team was able to add to their total, and Savannah secured the road conference win by a score of 4-1. The Lady Hornets will play again next, in another conference game, next Tuesday at Maryville.
