Ohio’s high school soccer season officially launched Friday night with a rivalry doubleheader at Harding Stadium. River Valley and Marion Harding competed in the inaugural “Futbol Friday Night” event, with the state giving soccer programs prime-time scheduling a week before football season begins.
The River Valley girls dominated their Marion County matchup, securing a convincing 5-1 victory over the Presidents. Vikings coach Justin Hage praised his team’s well-rounded performance, highlighting strong defensive work and balanced scoring. Four different players found the net for the visitors, with Sarina Strother and Cassidy Elliott among the goal scorers. Marion Harding’s Charlee Etgen scored late in the match, providing a bright spot for first-year coach Kindall Duke’s squad, which features many inexperienced players following graduation losses.
The boys’ competition ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Harding struck first on a Harrison Keith goal early in the match and controlled possession throughout, but River Valley equalized when Riley Hummel capitalized on a breakaway opportunity with under 17 minutes remaining. The tension escalated late as both teams received yellow cards, leaving the Vikings a player short down the stretch.
Harding’s boys program showed significant improvement under coach Ian Hartley following back-to-back one-win seasons. Despite dominating the match statistically, the team learned a valuable lesson about converting opportunities into results.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
About the Author
