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Marietta falls to River View squad

Marietta High’s Courtney Schuck handles the ball during a high school girls soccer match against River View Wednesday at Jerry Brock Field in Devola. Photo by Ron Johnston.

DEVOLA — Marietta High came back from a two-goal deficit in the first half, but three down was too much to overcome after the break.

The Tigers suffered their second setback of the season, dropping a 5-2 decision to River View in East Central Ohio League girls’ soccer action at Jerry Brock Field at the Marietta Soccer Complex Wednesday night.

“I don’t think the score reflects the game,” said MHS coach Jeff Price, whose orange and black booters fell to 12-2-1 on the season. “It was a good game and a game the whole time.”

Lexie Mullen and Maria Pfaff each had a goal for Marietta, while Courtney Schuck had an assist. Goalie Brookelyn Heiss had five saves.

Emmie Brenly, her team’s leading scorer, led the Black Bears with two goals, including a penalty kick. Lexi Fry, Claire Warschauer, and Jesse Vandenbark added one goal apiece, while Fry and Vandenbark each was also credited with an assist.

Keeper Raychel Smalley finished with seven saves.

“We’re very young, but our forte is that we’re a good defending team, so this was the best offensive output against a good team that we’ve had,” said River View boss Dave Kridler.

RV improved its overall record to 9-1-3.

“They’re a good team,” Price said. “But it could’ve gone either way.”

River View staked itself to a 1-0 advantage in the 16th minute of play when Fry put the finishing touch on Vandenbark’s cross from the left wing.

With about seven minutes remaining before the intermission, the Bears made it 2-0 on Brenly’s goal. Fry got the assist.

About a minute or so later, MHS cut it to one on Mullen’s unassisted score. The talented junior striker, who recently set the schoool’s single-season record for goals, now has 25 this fall.

Then, with 2:27 remaining before halftime, Pfaff got the equalizer for the Tigers on a scramble in the goal-mouth. Schuck was credited with an assist.

At halftime, it was 2-2.

“That was a concern, because we didn’t want to play from behind against them,” said Kridler of squandering a two-goal advantage. “They’re a really good attacking team.”

Early in the second half, Mullen had a breakaway on goal, but Smalley came out and made a nice save.

In the 51st minute, an RV player was tripped in the penalty box by a Tiger defender, and on the ensuing PK, Brenly drilled the ball past Heiss as the Bears regained the lead (3-2).

Late in the match, Warschauer had a breakaway and was initially stopped by Heiss. But the junior mid got her own rebound and put it into the back of the net to make it 4-2.

With time winding down in the final seconds, a Bear attacker was fouled by an MHS defender in the penalty area. Again, RV converted on the PK with senior Vanderbark doing the honors.

“Unfortunately, they had a couple of PKs (penalty kicks) that put us farther behind,” Price said. “But, I have to say that our girls did a good job.

“They were down 2-0, and they came back and tied it up. I can’t fault their effort. There are some things we have to clean up. We’re still young.”

Marietta is scheduled to host PHS Tuesday at 5 p.m.

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