Girls soccer: No moral victory for Buckeye in loss to Bay

YORK TWP. — The Buckeye girls soccer team has now been outscored by just one goal in three games against schools that appeared in 2024 state finals, but the 2025 Bucks aren't into moral victories. Reigning Division III state champion Bay downed Buckeye 1-0 Wednesday in Cleveland West Conference play, with the Rockets' lone goal coming on a first-half penalty kick. "We knew it was going to be a tough game and we had to bring the heat," said Bucks defender Kylee Kash, who later moved to forward. "I wouldn't say we were underdogs. The teams were fairly even. Losing 1-0 to Bay really isn't bad because they were state champs. We're not super happy about it, but at the same time we're not upset." The Rockets (8-2, 5-0), ranked third in the state in D-III by MaxPreps, held a 9-1 edge in shots on goal and an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks against the seventh-ranked Bucks (7-1-3, 3-1-1), but the result was much improved from the 6-0 defeat Bay hung on Buckeye a year ago. "The hard part is we've worked so hard this season," defender Julia King said. "They outshot us, but their only goal was on a penalty kick. I think our defense was strong." That it was behind King, Kash, Kaylee Limbert and Grace Pronik, just as it was in a 1-1 tie with 2024 D-II state runner-up North Royalton and a scoreless deadlock with D-III state finalist Highland, which fell 1-0 to Bay in the closing seconds. "We're proud," King said. "We're super excited for the playoffs. We know we've put in the work and we've proved time and time again that we know how to fight." The lone goal came as a result of a penalty in the box on Buckeye keeper Carlie Gunkelman, who stopped eight shots. A Bay player was in possession on the left side of the goal box when the sophomore came out and unsuccessfully tried to make a slide tackle. With Gunkelman having to leave the field momentarily, Issi Bruno then beat backup keeper Maddie Wilhelm on the PK. "I'm totally in the wrong for that," Gunkelman said. "I should have known that girl was going to cut back and I should have stayed on my line. Me as a goalkeeper, I like to come out. I want to own my box. In my head I just thought, 'I need to get the ball.'" Other than that, Buckeye's defense was stellar, with Gunkelman continually shouting instructions. The Rockets held a 4-0 edge in shots on goal and a whopping 6-1 advantage in corner kicks in the second half, but other than one leaping deflection over the crossbar by Gunkelman, Bay almost never got off a high-quality shot. The problem for the Bucks, who came out in a defensive posture with steady to heavy rain falling for most of the first half, was an inability to maintain possession in the midfield, which prevented them from mounting quality attacks. Charlotte DiEgidio had the team's lone shot on goal, Isabelle Krakowski blasted one just over the crossbar with 59 seconds left in the game and the speedy Kash had a few exciting runs while in possession of the ball, but that was about it. Still, the Bucks would have tied their third 2024 state finalist were in not for the PK. "At the beginning of the season, we knew teams were not going to come out and beat us like they did last year," Gunkelman said. "We're going to give every team a game." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X. Bay 1, Buckeye 0 BAY 1 0 — 1 BUCKEYE 0 0 — 0 First Bay — Issi Bruno (penalty kick), 18:47. Shots on goal — Bay 9, Buckeye 1. Corner kicks — Bay 8, Buckeye 1. Saves — Riley Mitchell (Bay) 0, Olivia Ruma (Bay) 1, Carlie Gunkelman (Bu) 8, Maddie Wilhelm (Bu) 0. Records — Bay (8-2, 5-0), Buckeye (7-1-3, 3-1-1). Junior varsity — Bay 6, Buckeye 1.