By DANIEL SHERRIFF
Despite another challenging season, the Garfield G-Men girls’ soccer team is beginning to find its defensive identity. But they still have some offensive questions to answer after losing 1-0 against Portage County rival Rootstown last Thursday evening at JAG Stadium in Garrettsville.
“It was 7-1 last year so go to 1-0 this year with them is pretty impressive on our part,” said Coach Aaron Gilbert. “I thought we played pretty good defense, and they had a lot of opportunities and sprayed some shots high and wide. We had some opportunities too but that has been our Achilles heel for quite for a little while. We have to be able to finish once we get the opportunities.”
Before the G-Men (2-7-1, 1-2-1) left the Portage Trail Conference to join the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier following the 2020 season, they had dominated their former conference rivals Rootstown having won the last six straight matches.
Since adding the Rovers back on their schedule to maintain the Portage County rivalry, Rootstown has gained the upper hand by winning the last two matches in consecutive seasons.
After a resounding 7-1 defeat last time, sophomore defender Hannah Timmons said that the G-Men owed it to themselves to not allow Rootstown to overpower them again.
“We were in it and our mindset was in it,” she said. “Last year we were not focused, and something was off but this year we definitely had our heads in the game.”
The Rovers scored the first and deciding goal when sophomore forward Elliott Smallfield fired a long-range shot from outside of the box. Although sophomore goalkeeper Ruby Price got her hands on the ball, she could not secure it and it slipped past her into the net for the lone goal of the match inside the 14th minute of play, pushing the Rovers ahead 1-0.
“We have been really working with Ruby about her being aggressive and coming out,” noted the seventh-year coach.
Although the Rovers scored the only goal, Garfield remained aggressive and fired five shots at the net but could not convert compared to Rootstown recording only two shots on target in the first half.
While the G-Men’s defense has taken shape, having only allowed one or fewer goal in three of their previous four matches, the offense still has yet to translate opportunities into goals as they have only scored seven goals this season and never more than two goals in a match. this
The Rovers’ defense dominated in the second half, allowing Garfield only one shot at the net.
“It was definitely tough,” acknowledged Timmons. “Rootstown is a great team and has always been a great team. I feel they did a really good job at pushing up. They were first to the ball but our offense is still struggling a bit because they are really new but they just did a good job getting to the ball.”
Although the Rovers maintained possession for the majority of the second half, launching seven shots on target, Price kept it a one-goal match by recording six saves and ultimately made eight saves in the match.
“I thought she made some really big saves,” Gilbert said. “I thought our defense really stepped up. We have two first-year players in the back that have never played soccer before and two that have played for awhile. We are mixing in a lot of first years with those with a lot of experience and it is just really about trying to get those first years the experience they need.”
After a 1-4 start to the season in which they allowed 20 goals, Garfield’s defense has stiffened and only surrendered 14 goals in their last five matches including surrendering two goals or fewer in four of those matches.
According to Gilbert, Garfield’s communication has significantly improved on the defensive end.
“I think we have some people who are taking charge,” he said. “There are people who are not really afraid to step on each other’s toes. They understand that we are talking in a competitive nature and we are not making it aggressive. It is not a personal thing so we are doing a much better job at communicating and learning.”
Although the G-Men have only won two matches this season, Gilbert said it has been a step in the right direction after experiencing a winless season last year.
Following a road match against Springfield on Tuesday evening, the G-Men will return to the pitch and face MVAC Grey Tier foe Champion at Community Stadium in Warren on Sep. 30 beginning at 7 p.m.
