Fitch girls capture first title since '93

The Falcons defeated Massillon Perry, 9-0, to share the Federal League title with Massillon Jackson.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- The last time the Fitch High girls soccer team won a league title, Michael Jordan retired (for the first time), Whitney Houston still had a music career and the seniors on this year's team were in kindergarten.
That's a long drought.
On Monday, it ended.
"It's a big relief," said Fitch senior Brittney Getz, following a 9-0 win over visiting Massillon Perry. "We've worked four years for this."
The Falcons won a share of the Federal League title -- their first league title since winning the Steel Valley Conference championship in 1993 -- snapping Massillon Jackson's 12-year stranglehold on outright titles.
The Polar Bears also won a share, but it was the first time in 12 years they haven't won it outright, Fitch coach Carlo Trafficante said.
"This team just stuck together," Trafficante said. "We had some adversity earlier in the year, but the girls didn't give up on each other, they didn't give up on me and I didn't give up on them."
Fitch (10-3-3, 5-0-2) came close to winning the league title last year, finishing 6-1 in the Federal with a 6-4 loss to Jackson.
Trafficante knew this year's team had a chance to win it, but the Falcons had to overcome injuries and some bad luck early in the year.
He promised the Falcons he would take them out to dinner if they won the league.
The restaurant? Olive Garden. It won't be cheap, but Trafficante has no regrets.
"It's worth it," he said.
Fitch, which tied Jackson and North Canton Hoover earlier in the season, was a little sluggish at the start of Monday's game.
With just more than five minutes left in the first half, the Falcons were leading 1-0 on a goal by senior Jodi Bowlen. Then Getz left-footed a ball 25 yards into the goal, giving Fitch a more comfortable 2-0 halftime lead.
Lopsided shot advantage
It should have been worse. The Falcons held a 28-1 edge in shots in the first half.
"I think we were a little too anxious to start the game," Trafficante said. "We weren't patient and we rushed some shots. We settled down eventually."
No kidding. Seven different players scored goals in the second half, including another one from Bowlen -- giving her 18 this season. She already holds school records for goals in a season (27, set last year) and a career (81).
"We felt pretty good coming into the game and we knew we had to play hard," Getz said. "We picked it up in the second half and it showed."
With the league race out of the way, Fitch will focus on the tournament, which starts Wednesday against Poland. The Falcons beat the Bulldogs 2-0 on Saturday and this week's game should be close.
But after winning a district title two years ago, the Falcons are hoping for big things this year.
"We want to win the district, but we want to go even farther," Getz said. "Especially the seniors. We have a good class and we want to finish strong."
scalzo@vindy.com