It's not very often when a coach - no matter what the sport is - has no problems with the way his team had just played.
Scott Dutton found himself in that position Monday night after watching his talented St. Clairsville girls' soccer team roll to a convincing, 9-0, whitewashing of visiting Indian Creek at Red Devil Stadium.
"Our offense looked pretty good. We played smothering defense, and our goalies really didn't have to do much," Dutton said in summing up his team's successful debut.
Article Photos
T-L Photo/KIM NORTH
ST. CLAIRSVILLE’S Eberle Ferrell controls the ball on her way to a goal Monday night at Red Devil Stadium. She scored a pair, as did Carlee Gillespie. The Red Devils routed Indian Creek, 9-0. Additional images may be found at cu.timesleaderonline.com
"There's absolutely nothing I can be upset with. It was a big win for us."
The Lady Red Devils, who have very high expectations, broke out to a 4-0 lead at the half. They held a commanding 25-2 advantage in shots as the Redskins, who were also making their season debut, couldn't muster much offense.
Junior Carlee Gillespie got the scoring under way when she headed a free kick by Indian Creek keeper Kristen Shimko and kept control of the sphere. She dribbled around another Redskin defender before rolling the ball across the crease just inside the left post in the 8th minute (8:53).
Fact Box
Indian Creek 0 0 - 0
St. Clairsville 4 5 - 9
IC-Saves by: Shimko (23, 33 shots, Todoroff 2, 10 shots)
STC-Goals by: Gillespie 2, Ferrell 2, Callarik, Barr, Dusz, F. Weidman, B. Weidman; Assists by: Barr, Holtsclaw, B, Weidman, Ferrell; Saves by: Sowers 2, S. Weidman 0
North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com
Classmate Eberle Ferrell netted the next two goals, the second coming on a 35-yard direct kick that sailed over top of the outstretched arms of Shimko, making it 3-0 in the 22nd minute (22:59).
With time winding down in the first half, Indian Creek's Page Fowler went down to the turf hard after a collision. She was helped off the field, and eventually taken to an area hospital with a suspected broken ankle.
Red Devil freshman Halee Callarik recorded her first career net-finder when she broke in all alone on Shimko. Her right foot shot tickled the twine in the left corner to bump the count to 4-0 in the 34th minute (34:15).
Indian Creek couldn't find any firepower in the second half as it was outshot 18-0 for a final shot margin of 43-2 in favor of the Red Devils.
Junior Taryn Barr made it 5-0 early in the second half. Gillespie's rebound goal in the 51st minute (51:01) came after Sarah Holtsclaw banged a shot off the cross-bar, which caromed to the awaiting Gillespie.
Kayla Dusz, another promising junior, blasted home a shot following a wild scramble in the box for a 7-0 lead.
The scoring was concluded by two of the three Weidman sisters - senior Falon and sophomore Bond.
Barr, Holtsclaw, B. Weidman and Ferrell notched assists in the contest.
Goalkeepers Brianna Sowers and Sofia Weidman combined for the shutout, with Sowers recording two first-half saves. Weidman, who played the entire second half, was not tested.
"We've got a bunch of girls that can score, and tonight was an example of that," Dutton added.
Despite of the lop-sided defeat, first-year Indian Creek head coach Jessie Ferrari was upbeat.
"We did have a few injuries in the game, but I am not disappointed with my girls," Ferrari said. "They are a young team. They played well for their skill level, and St. Clairsville had a really good team. I am proud of the way my girls played."
St. Clairsville travels to Richmond Wednesday to meet Edison.
