GIRLS SOCCER Davis' goal clips Cards

A pass from Krista Ginnetti netted Poland a 2-1 win over Canfield in a district semifinal.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
POLAND -- The Poland High girls soccer team worked an ideal play in an ideal situation to perfection, and it carried the Bulldogs to victory over Canfield in a Division I district tournament semifinal Tuesday night at Poland High Stadium.
With the score tied at 1-1, junior Brit Davis scored on a short shot from directly in front of the goal on a long pass from junior Krista Ginnetti with about 7 minutes left to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 win and a berth in Saturday's district final against Howland at 7 p.m. at Poland.
Howland advanced with a 4-2 win in a shoot-out over North Canton Hoover Tuesday night in the other district semifinal at North Canton.
The clincher
On Poland's winning goal, senior Natalie Ludt brought the ball down the field along the right sideline, passed directly to Ginnetti in the far right corner ahead of the Canfield defense, setting up a 2-against-1 situation against goalie Noelle Zalac.
Ginnetti then delivered a cross-field pass to Davis, who waited momentarily for Zalac to commit herself before thumping the ball to the left of the net for the score.
"The play was set up really well," said Poland (14-3-1) coach Jim Sutman. "That is how we scripted it and fortunately it worked. It was an ideal 2-on-1 situation that we always are looking for."
Sutman said Davis capped the play set up by Ludt and Ginnetti perfectly.
"Brit Davis finishes the play. She knows how to score. Davis waited until the keeper [moved], and she made her move to the opposite direction," said Sutman.
But also making the play succeed was that it materialized ahead of the Canfield defense.
"That's just the way it happens sometimes," said Canfield (12-3-2) coach Jon Ulicney.
Canfield scores first
Canfield took a 1-0 lead at about 26:00 of the first half on Grazia Sorice's long shot from the right side of the field to the left end of the net, away from goalie Landry Yankle.
Poland tied it at 1-1 with about 7:00 left in the first half on Dana Donchess' short delivery, after a teammate's shot struck the top post of the goal, bounced down and was cleared by the Canfield defense back to Donchess.
Both teams took 12 shots. Zalac had 20 saves, while Yankle had four.
kovach@vindy.com