Girls soccer: Morgan Janicek powers Firelands to win over Vermilion

VERMILION — Morgan Janicek finished Saturday with a hat trick in goals and Stillman Cups. The senior made it a three-peat for the Falcons by scoring three goals to help Firelands flip the script on Vermilion in a 5-1 win Saturday morning. "It feels amazing," Janicek said. "We didn't used to win it, but winning it these past three years has just been an incredible feeling. The connection with my teammates was going very smoothly. We possessed very well, created space and that allowed me to take the shots that I took." The game Saturday resumed at the 30:07 mark of the first half because lightning suspended play Aug. 11 with the Sailors up 1-0. Vermilion's lone goal came when Sydney Herchler found Livia Penton in the ninth minute. The break served Firelands (1-0-1) well, who secured a draw with North Ridgeville since the rainout and returned to Vermilion a different team. "When we were here Friday, we had a tough preseason," Firelands coach Kevin Zeigler said. "I don't think we recovered. We went to North Ridgeville and kind of got our feet under us, then came back today with a different energy level. We worked a lot better and kept them under pressure for most of the game." Vermilion (1-1-0) only managed five shots in the duration of the first half while Firelands strung together 14 and ultimately outshot the Sailors 29-6. "We have to keep learning from our mistakes and get better," Vermilion coach Matt DeCapua said. "Firelands honestly looked like a much different team today. They've got some special players and we have a lot of room for growth. We're going to get there." Janicek stole the show in the first half, promptly tying the game four minutes into play off a nice cross from Peyton West that stretched Vermilion goalkeeper Abigail Rhoades out wide to cover Janicek, but the savvy senior was able to place a nice angled shot in the opposite direction. Her second goal came 18 minutes later, a standard turn-and-fire from the top of the box. Her third goal was anything but standard, firing a high looping kick that connected off the cross bar then ricocheted off the left post and into the goal. Mia Sutorius assisted Janicek's second goal, then picked up her second assist five minutes into the second half when she fed Ariannah Floyd right up the middle of the box for an easy finish. Sutorius got on the board herself 21 minutes later, connecting from the top of the box. "The team came with a lot of energy today," Sutorius said. "It started from defense winning the ball, we checked really well and we moved. It was just our energy and we put people in great positions and got people to score." Contact Chris Sweeney at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on X. Firelands 5, Vermilion 1 GOALS: (F) Morgan Janicek (14th minute, 32nd minute, 36th minute), Ariannah Floyd (45th minute), Mia Sutorius (66th minute); (V) Livia Penton (9th minute) ASSISTS: (F) Peyton West, Sutorius (2), Nevaeh Floyd; (V) Sydney Herchler. SHOTS: Firelands 31, Vermilion 6. SHOTS ON GOAL: Firelands 19, Vermilion 4. SAVES: (F) Kendra Hardwick 3, (V) Abigail Rhoades 14. FOULS: Firelands 10, Vermilion 4. YELLOW CARDS: Firelands 1, Vermilion 0. CORNER KICKS: Firelands 7, Vermilion 0. FREE KICKS: Firelands 4, Vermilion 10. GOAL KICKS: Firelands 2, Vermilion 18. HALFTIME: Firelands, 3-1.