Having lost 13 seniors from last year’s team, expectations of the Geneva girls soccer weren’t quite what they had been in recent years. However, with a 6-1 win against Jefferson on Saturday, the Eagles (12-1-1, 7-0) have a notch in their belts identical to their predecessor’s. They won the Northeastern Conference championship — again.
“Thinking back on it, I don’t think there real high expectations (from outside the program) of us,” Geneva coach Katie Carter said. “The key for these girls weas stepping in filling a role for us. We lost 13 seniors from last year’s team. I kept telling them that everyone thinks we’re down this year, that it’s not going ot be the same.
“The kids responded positively and they were rewarded for their efforts.”
It’s the sixth consecutive time Geneva has laid claim to the crown. The Eagles shared it with Conneaut in 2005.
“When the kids look back, they’ll realize they did something special, winning six (NEC championships) in a row,” Carter said. “(Winning the NEC) is always in the back of our minds. It’s one of the first goals we have as a team. No matter what personnel we put on the field, we have the same goal. They just want to hold up the bar that was set by the class before them and the class before them and the class before them...
“It’s a tradition they want to uphold.”
Behind three goals and an assist from Krista Blake and four assists and a goal from Suelen Gutierrez, the Eagles extended their NEC unbeaten streak to 33 matches, dating back to a loss to the Spartans in 2005. The only blemish on the record is a tie with Edgewood in 2006.
“I didn’t even think about it until you brought it up,” Carter said. “We don’t talk about those things. We take it one match at a time and focus on what we’re trying to do each match and the rest takes care of itself.
“We don’t concentrate on (the unbeaten streak). I don’t think it’s part of our mentality.”
Brooke Irwin added her second goal in as many matches and now has two in her career and Ali Webb scored for the first time. Emma Kingzett also had an assist.
Liz Hubler netted the goal for the Falcons (3-7-1, 2-4).
Sports
Geneva kicks for six
Carter’s Eagles extend their dominance of NEC girls soccer
- Sports
-
-
Eagles fly to top seed
Having already clinched a share of the Premier Athletic Conference championship — which they can wrap up outright with a win at North on Tuesday — the Geneva Eagles were accorded another honor Sunday.
-
SECTIONAL SUCCESS:
- 1. Jefferson 17
- 2. Madison 11
- 3. Perry 8
- 4. Geneva 7
- 5. Conneaut 6
- 5. Pymatuning Valley 6
- 7. Riverside 4
- 8. Grand Valley 1
- 9. Edgewood 0
- 9. Lakeside 0
-
Carter lands on her feet at Jefferson
Riley and Abby Carter had a hard time recognizing their mom this past fall without all the equipment and coaching gear in her minivan.
-
Scholastic Schedule:
MONDAY, FEB. 6
Boys Basketball
n Calvary Baptist at Grand River Academy
Girls Basketball
n Edgewood at SJP (6:30)
n PV at Grand Valley
n Kirtland at Jefferson
n Perry at Chardon -
Outdoors Insider, with Dale Sunderlin: In search of... song dogs
With deer season coming to an end what are you going to do over the next few months until spring turkey season arrives?
-
Battle of Mustangs to GV
Consistency and execution are things all coaches look for in their teams. The Mathews Mustangs have done both to a great degree this season in rolling to the top of the Northeastern Athletic Conference race, while the Grand Valley Mustangs have had too many moments where they didn’t achieve those traits.
-
Scholastic Schedule:
SATURDAY, FEB. 4
Boys Basketball
n Conneaut at NDCL
n Lincoln-West at Grand River Academy (5) -
Lakers make it four in a row
Amid a sea of pink and a blaze of red all over the court defensively, the Pymatuning Valley Lakers accomplished something many thought they couldn’t at the beginning of the season: Win the Northeastern Athletic Conference championship.
-
Scholastic Schedule:
FRIDAY, FEB. 3
Boys Basketball
n Jefferson at Lakeview
n US at Geneva
n Lakeside at Riverside
n PV at Badger
n Mathews at Grand Valley
n Madison at North
n Andrews at Edgewood
n Perry at Chagrin Falls
n Lake Ridge Academy at Grand River Academy -
An appreciation for the past
In 1958, a mere 54 years ago, the Grand Valley High School and Ashtabula County boys basketball career scoring record belonged to Jim Dodd. The ACBF hall of famer scored 1,377 points in his career as a leading post player for the Mustangs.
- More Sports Headlines
-
