Girls soccer: Avon, Amherst play to draw

AVON — Amherst came into Wednesday's Southwestern Conference match at Avon looking for a win to pull the Comets even with the Eagles in the SWC standings. Meanwhile, Avon was looking for a win that could have given it a two-game cushion from its nearest foe. Neither team got the result it was looking for. After a wild opening flurry of action that saw three goals scored in the first 14 minutes, the sides settled down in the second half and played to a 2-2 draw. Amherst (9-3-1, 3-1-1 SWC) got on the board first in the 10th minute when senior midfielder Isabelle McGee positioned herself on the far post to redirect a Paige Miller corner kick into the net and put the Comets up 1-0. The goal was McGee's 10th of the season. Miller added to her school record with her 43rd career assist. "It was kind of unexpected. I didn't think the ball would get back but I just glad I was there to finish it," McGee said. "That goal was really important. You always have your strength up and you're motivated after you score the first goal." The momentum boost proved to be fleeting as less than two minutes later Avon (7-3-2, 4-0-1) scored on sophomore Sydney Thomas' 15th goal of the year to tie the score at one. The Comets, who came into the match shorthanded and only played 13 girls, retook the lead in the 14th minute on Sienna Rebman's 13th goal of the year. "The last few games we've gotten off to slow starts so it was an emphasis tonight to have a positive opening and for the girls to believe in themselves," Amherst coach Gary Gonzalez said. "I am so proud of this team and the character they showed tonight." The Comets did a good job of holding the one-goal lead for over 25 minutes but Avon responded just before the half as sophomore Kaitlyn Buchino scored on a header with 28 seconds left in the half to make the score 2-2 and shift momentum back to the Eagles. "I was thinking we really needed a goal before the half," said Buchino, who has five goals this season. "It really pushed us. Our heads picked up and we got more competitive once we tied the score." The second half turned into a defensive struggle as both teams played as if they were trying not to make a mistake. Thomas had a nice scoring chance for Avon in the 70th minute and Amherst had a pair of free kicks in its attacking third in the closing minute but were unable to turn the set pieces into goals. "I think our girls probably came out having that idea or that mentality that we won this game," Avon coach Attila Csiszar said. "But every game is a battle, everyone is coming after Avon. It was a mental setback tonight we played like we thought we had already won the game." The Eagles are just 2-2-2 in their last six matches, the other draw coming last Saturday against a Hudson team that is ranked among the top teams in Ohio. Amherst has also struggled recently going 2-3-1 in its last six matches. However the Comets are hoping the draw can propel them into a strong finish with four regular-season matches to go. "We're really proud of ourselves," McGee said. "Yes we tied, but that team is really good and we had a lot of people out so this feels like a win in our hearts." Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Amherst 2, Avon 2 GOALS: (AM) Isabelle McGee (10th minute), Sienna Rebman (14th minute). (AV) Sydney Thomas (12th minute), Kaitlyn Buchino (40th minute). ASSISTS: (AM) Paige Miller; (AV) Paige Millet, Morgan Terrell. SAVES: (AM) Haydn Beischlag 5; (AV) Haylee Ostrander 4. FOULS: Amherst 3; Avon 5. CORNER KICKS: Amherst 2; Avon 3. HALFTIME: 2-2.