Girls soccer: Avon clinches SWC title with 6-0 shutout of Elyria

AVON — It was a night for celebrations with a little bit of soccer in between. Prior to Wednesday's Southwestern Conference match against Elyria, Avon celebrated its 13 seniors. After the final whistle, the Eagles hoisted the Southwestern Conference trophy with a 6-0 win over the Pioneers, giving Avon its first SWC title since 2022. Six Eagles scored with three of the goals coming from seniors Grace Demaline, Allie Argabright and Lauren Tindera. Tindera, one of Avon's three captains, is one of the only players that's still in the program from the 2022 SWC title team. "I'm really happy to do it my senior year and end on a good note," Tindera said. "It was really special to share the night with all of my teammates." Avon coach Attila Csiszar started 11 seniors, but the moment was even more special for one of those starters, forward Lillian Dobrovic. Dobrovic missed the entire season due to a concussion, but Csiszar said she has been at every game and every training day, supporting her teammates. Wednesday, she suited up and took the field for the opening kickoff and was immediately subbed out after receiving hugs from her teammates and coaches. "It was definitely fun because I haven't been able to play with my teammates all season. It was sad but it was also fun," Dobrovic said. "I like showing up for my teammates because of how close we all are. It was exciting we could win the conference tonight, too." Avon came into the game needing at least a draw to clinch a share of the conference title. The Eagles are 10-4-2 and finished 6-0-1 in the SWC. "We have so many kids, so many seniors," Csiszar said. "They've been so devoted to this program and the school. The crazy thing is everyone of these players play year-round and it's tough for a lot of these players because they would be starters anywhere else in the conference, the county or in the Greater Cleveland area." The Eagles outshot Elyria 20-4, but on the final shot Avon goalkeeper Lily Fitch went to the ground to make a save just in front of the goal line to preserve the shutout, the team's seventh of the year. The defending Division II state semifinalist Eagles have one more regular-season game Monday at Brunswick before they being defense of their regional championship. "Our schedule is so tough, I really beat the girls with our non-league schedule," Csiszar said. "So tonight was really nice to get everyone out there to contribute to the win. You don't get too many of these as a coach." Elyria (7-9, 1-6) hung tough for most of the first half, trailing 1-0 until Avon's Sydney Thomas scored her team-leading 18th goal, and freshman Carmela Cruzado added her fifth goal of the year in a span on 20 seconds. Tindera's goal gave Avon a 4-0 halftime lead. Elyria has won four of its last six matches but Wednesday's game showed the difference between where it is and where first-year coach Emil Haitonic hopes it will be in the future. "We have to work on building from the youth all the way to high school," Haitonic said. "We have to identify the girls who want to play soccer in our community and bring them up from recreation to travel to club and then to high school." The good news for the Pioneers is that they have a lot of young talent to build upon. Freshman Elaina Martinez and junior Ehlaia Simmons combined to score 27 goals. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Avon 6, Elyria 0 Goals: Grace Demaline (5th minute), Sydney Thomas (28th minute), Carmela Cruzado (28th minute), Lauren Tindera (29th minute), Allie Argabright (55th minute), Ella Graham (67th minute) Goalkeepers: (E) Jayden Daberkow (14 saves); (A) Lily Fitch (4 saves) Fouls: Elyria 4, Avon 3 Corner kicks: Elyria 1, Avon 8 Offsides: Elyria 1, Avon 4 Halftime: Avon, 4-0