GIRLS SOCCER Fitch's best season is done

Walsh Jesuit scored its first goal early; the Warriors proved to be too powerful.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
RAVENNA -- Their faces stained with tears, members of the Austintown Fitch High girls soccer team were reluctant to leave their locker room.
They knew their off-season awaited, and they didn't want to face it.
Minutes earlier, the Falcons' season had ended in a Division I regional semifinal with a 6-1 loss to Walsh Jesuit at Ravenna Stadium.
A team that accomplished so much -- winning its first district title in the program's history -- will be broken up, and 10 seniors will head their separate ways.
"We had a bond this season that I've never seen," Fitch senior Danielle Storey said. "We've always been together, but this year our bond was unstoppable."
Because of their 2002 success and the experience they brought into this season, the Falcons eyed the district title from the start.
"We came back with 10 of our 11 starters this year, and they knew we were the best team in our district," Fitch coach Carlo Trafficante said. "It was just a matter of us going out and playing like it. They did it this year."
Fitch's reward for winning that district title was a match-up against Walsh Jesuit, a state power which won the Div. II state title in 2001.
Walsh Jesuit scored 1 minute, 3 seconds into the game and dominated the Falcons from start to finish.
"That's happened to us before," Storey said of an early deficit. "If that was going to happen, we knew we still had 79 minutes left."
One-sided
Walsh Jesuit (18-0-1) proved to be too powerful. It outshot Fitch 35-3 for the game, and it enjoyed a 5-0 lead at halftime.
"We read articles about them. We knew that in their district final, they scored 18 seconds into the game," Trafficante said. "That's what you've got to do in big games like this. You have to get on the board first and you have to attack."
At halftime, Trafficante told his team to focus solely on the second half and, if nothing else, to play Walsh Jesuit evenly.
The Falcons (13-5-2) did so, aided by a perfectly-executed goal scored off a header by Storey with 19:46 remaining. Sophomore forward Jodi Bowlen centered the ball from the left wing, and Storey headed it into the net.
"It was a nice goal. It wasn't a cheap goal," Trafficante said. "It was one that we earned."
Walsh Jesuit got three goals and an assist from Kristin May, while Rose Augustin, Darcy Riley and Kelly Thomas added one each.
The Warriors' offense peppered Fitch goalie Kristi Brendlinger the entire game, but the sophomore prevented a number of other scoring opportunities and finished with 14 saves.
The future
Fitch's run to the regional may boost the program, but its future success also will be dependent on how its youth approaches the game.
"If these kids work in the off-season and hone their foot skills and their understanding of the game, we will have players who can fill some spots," Trafficante said.
"Hopefully, our success will motivate our kids to work a little harder."
richesson@vindy.com