Girls soccer: Highland shuts out Wadsworth in county rivalry game

WADSWORTH — Coming off a state finals appearance, the Highland girls soccer team refuses to take anything for granted this season. The Hornets continued their thoroughly impressive down-to-business start to the season Saturday with a 4-0 non-league victory over backyard rival Wadsworth. Highland (3-0) gave the returning Division II district finalist Grizzlies (0-2) all the respect they deserved. "This win felt really good," Highland senior Jessica Sherman said. "Wadsworth is always top on our rival list. The games have been really close in the past, so we know we have to prepare for this game, knowing they are going to be a good team going into this." After a couple of tough losses to start the season, the Grizzlies are hopeful that the lessons learned from the Hornets can prove valuable. "They are a very good team," said Wadsworth junior Athena Craig, who scored the team's lone goal of the season in a 4-1 loss to Amherst. "It's hard this early in the season, because we're not really formed as a team. We have a lot more time to get better, but we'll learn from this. "They make us play to their level, and it makes us realize what we have to do better." Highland's defense made it difficult for Wadsworth to advance the ball into the scoring third for most of the evening to pick up its third shutout of the season and 10th in 11 games dating to last season. The lone exception was a goal scored by Bay's Maya Holmes with 12 seconds remaining in the Division III state final. This year, the Hornets are in D-II with the Grizzlies. "There were not a lot of opportunities to turn," Craig said of Highland's defense. "They were really fast to the ball. From here on out, we need to support each other, give each other options to go back and try to find feet." Not only is Highland fast on the defensive end, it is a well-oiled machine working in precise unison. "Our defensive line is really strong this year," Sherman said. "I feel like we have really come together. We just know how to play together and where each other will be. It's a team effort back there." Offensively, the Hornets spread the wealth with goals from Jordyn Caples, Grace Shondel, Avalynn Price and Penny Dykeman. Shondel added two assists and reigning Gazette MVP Vanessa Zufall had her third assist of the season. Highland was most dangerous moving players all around the scoring and middle thirds of the field, keeping Wadsworth's defense guessing. "A lot of people have a lot of different skills," Price said. "When you switch players it messes with the defense, because they don't know what to expect. It makes us a lot more dangerous and get more chances through." Price scored her Medina County-leading fifth goal of the season when she stole a pass from Wadsworth goalkeeper Kara Reedy and fired it in for a 2-0 lead. Reedy made seven saves as the Grizzlies held Highland to a season low for goals. "Our defense can definitely communicate a little bit more," senior captain Cameran Halleck said. "We're all really close friends, so it's just something we need to work on." Caples opened the scoring just over five minutes with a quick touch on a nice cross by Shondel. Highland went into halftime with a 3-0 lead after Shondel pocketed a header off a pass from Zufall. Dykeman closed the scoring less than 10 minutes into the second half when she scored on another pass by Shondel. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Highland 4, Wadsworth 0 HIGHLAND 3 1 — 4 WADSWORTH 0 0 — 0 First H — Jordyn Caples (Grace Shondel), 34:49. H — Avalynn Price, 17:01. H — Shondel (Vanessa Zufall), 6:52. Second H — Penny Dykeman (Shondel), 31:46. Shots on goal — Highland 11, Wadsworth 4. Corner kicks — Highland 3, Wadsworth 5. Saves — Hailey Trzaska (H) 4, Kara Reedy (W) 7. Records — Highland (3-0), Wadsworth (0-2). Junior varsity — Highland 1, Wadsworth 0.