Carroll falls in GCL finale

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By John Bombatch

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KETTERING —Two corner kicks and “the bomb” earned host Kettering Alter a 3-0 win over Carroll, and the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed’s North Division title, Wednesday night, Oct. 12 at Alter High School.

Carroll coach Sarah Flach said she felt the host Knights dominated the match.

“I felt like they were outworking us for most of those 50-50 battles that we like to try to win. And I thought they showed up to play tonight, all the credit goes to them,” Flach said.

Flach credited freshman midfielder Allie Stefanek with a solid effort of stepping into the lineup for senior co-captain Abby McNamara. McNamara, the Patriots’ leading scorer and second-ranked scorer in the GWOC Co-Ed, had scored twice in Carroll’s 2-all tie with Cincinnati McNicholas on Oct. 5, but was injured late in the first half.

McNamara did not play against Alter.

Alter coach Javier Iriart thought the game may have played out differently with McNamara in the match.

“Oh, definitely. They played without arguably the best player in this game,” Iriart said. “Had she been in, it may have been a different outcome. It’s always a sad thing when you hear about a player of that caliber going down with a devastating injury.

“They had a great season, and obviously nothing to be ashamed of. We might see them again in the postseason. — — — “

Alter took advantage of the game’s first corner kick with 26:04 left to play in the first half. Lauren Dietz kicked the corner kick from left of the goal, and Carroll goalkeeper Taylor McCarthy deflected the first shot try. The Knights’ junior midfielder Ty Markoff chipped in the rebound from the right side, however, to give Alter a 1-0 lead.

Carroll put the pressure on late in the second half, but shots on goal by Alania Casey and Stefanek were turned away by Alter goalkeeper Sarah Cady.

Alter added its second goal of the match with 11:34 left to play in the second half, on yet another corner kick from the left side. On senior Ashley Maples’ kick, sophomore midfielder Grace Haines knocked in the rebound off of possibly 2-3 other players from in front of the Carroll goal for the score.

Two minutes later and with a steady rain, Maples appeared to be attempting to dump a high kick from midfield into the Carroll box, but the high kick — which Iriart nicknamed ‘The Bomb’ — took a high bounce and cleared Carroll’s goalie for the Knights’ third score.

Alter appeared to be on the offensive for much of the second half.

With the win, Alter (11-1-2 overall) wins the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed North with a 5-1-0 division record. Carroll lost in the GCL North for the first time this season to finish second in the division with a 4-1-1 mark.

Carroll (8-3-4 overall) has a regular season make-up game yet to play at 1 p.m. Saturday against Cincinnati Northwest.

“We’ll use that to pull ourselves back together and hopefully get some momentum for the postseason,” Flach said.

Both teams will open Division II sectional tournament play on Oct. 22 with 7 p.m. contests.

Alter is the top seed in the Dayton 1 Sectional and will play the winner between Carlisle and Middletown Madison.

Carroll is the second seed in the Dayton 2 Sectional and will open against the Eaton – Trotwood-Madison winner.

Carroll defenders Cat McNamara (10) and Hannah Truckenmiller (15) double team Alter’s Lauren Dietz during the first half of Wednesday night’s game at Alter High School. The host Knights won the match, 3-0.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/10/web1_1015K10_PS.jpgCarroll defenders Cat McNamara (10) and Hannah Truckenmiller (15) double team Alter’s Lauren Dietz during the first half of Wednesday night’s game at Alter High School. The host Knights won the match, 3-0.

Alter’s Libby Bazelak gets off a kick as Carroll senior defender Nicole McCarthy (4) closes in on defense, during Wednesday’s Greater Catholic League Co-Ed battle at Alter High School.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/10/web1_BazelakkickC4NicoleMcCarthy.jpgAlter’s Libby Bazelak gets off a kick as Carroll senior defender Nicole McCarthy (4) closes in on defense, during Wednesday’s Greater Catholic League Co-Ed battle at Alter High School.

Alter midfielder Ty Markoff collides with a Carroll defender during early first-half action Wednesday at Alter High School. The host Knights won the GCL Co-Ed battle, 3-0, to win the North Division crown.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/10/web1_-MarkoffCollision.jpgAlter midfielder Ty Markoff collides with a Carroll defender during early first-half action Wednesday at Alter High School. The host Knights won the GCL Co-Ed battle, 3-0, to win the North Division crown.

By John Bombatch

[email protected]

You can reach John Bombatch at 937-372-4444, Ext. 2123.

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