GIRLS DISTRICT SOCCER Crafton's goals key Hubbard's 2-1 win over Mooney in OT

The Eagles advanced to play Poland Saturday for the district title.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- Like a John Ford-directed western, where the fastest gun in the land is called out into the street by the daring young gunslinger, Hubbard High's girls soccer team faced off against upstart Cardinal Mooney.
In the Division II girls district soccer tournament semifinal, the Eagles, the three-time regional representatives, got two goals from junior forward Rachel Crafton to beat Mooney 2-1 in overtime.
Hubbard (11-8) plays at Poland Saturday for the district championship, a trophy the Eagles have held since 2000. Poland beat Hubbard 4-0 early in the year.
The first goal
After a scoreless first half, Crafton and Hubbard senior Loni Sargent talked about scoring the first goal of the match.
"Me and Loni were talking and I told her she was going to score a goal for me," said Crafton. "She said she had to mark this girl and said 'You score it.' "
The prophesy came true. Five minutes into overtime, with the score tied at 1, Sargent got off a powerful 30-yard shot from the right wing which struck the Mooney crossbar.
Mooney freshman goalie Veronica Skowron committed but the ricochet fell in front of Crafton who scored from in close.
"When she kicked it I was like 'Go Loni,' " said Crafton. "And then it bounced off and I just happened to be there, in front of the goal."
Mooney (12-6-1) has never won a district semifinal, but the Cardinals left the halftime with renewed vigor.
Offense rebuffed
Sophomore Marisa Simon got off a solid shot midway through the second half and Eagle goalie Stephanie Zubyk, who had eight saves, turned her away.
Mooney tried to funnel the ball through Simon to sophomore forward Kelli Willis, but Hubbard was ready for the that attack.
"That was our whole game plan," Hubbard coach Dennis Smith said. "We were keying on two girls, Simon and Willis."
Hubbard senior defender Kristen Eli drew the daunting task of taking Willis one-on-one.
Willis entered the match with 26 goals this season and 54 in her career, but Tuesday she seldom got a good look at Zubyk.
"She's an awesome player, she has a lot of speed," Eli said of Willis. "That was my one and only objective -- to keep her off the ball."
After 65 minutes, the young Mooney team blinked and Crafton took advantage.
Crafton delivers
Junior Christina Adams, the top Hubbard scorer on the year, took a pass at the top of the box and fed Crafton, whose shot just eluded Skowron.
"Me and Christina Adams were up top and the ball was getting kicked around," said Crafton. "I happened to run in for a pass and it got there."
Crafton thought she had another two-goal game this season but couldn't accurately count her goals for the year.
Just seconds later Mooney got the equalizer when junior Amanda Stanavich found the range from 25 yards out.
Mooney started seven sophomores and two freshmen.
"They have a good team, they're going to be good next year and they're going to have a good team the year after that," Smith said of the Cardinals.
West Branch 4, St. Thomas 1
BELOIT -- The score was tied 1-1 at halftime, then Anina Beegle, Paige Stryfeller and Mackenzie Wallace scored in the second half for the Warriors (13-0-5).
Stryfeller also had an assist on Wallace's goal.
Nikki Brown scored for West Branch in the first half.
For St. Thomas (11-3-4), Allison Jonas scored on an assist from Maria Garofalo.
West Branch had 20 shots on goal and St. Thomas had 10.
Carlie Poffenberger had nine saves for the Warriors and Kristen Soles had 17 for St. Thomas.
The Warriors will play at Chagrin Falls Saturday at 7 p.m. in the district championship game.