Familiar territory for Marietta girls soccer: Tigers meet Fairfield Union in Sweet 16
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MARIETTA — From any angle, district titles are quite the accomplishment. The Marietta Tigers' girls soccer team, however, are chasing something that doesn't stop with advancing to the Sweet 16 in Ohio High School athletics.
Millie Becker's two goals in a span of 20 seconds during the second half of last week's 2-0 win over Jackson put Marietta two wins from the same spot reached by last year's team.
"I feel like getting so far last year almost makes this district title not as overwhelming - not as big of a win, but it's good to take a step back and realize we are district champions," Marietta senior Lilly Westbrock said. "We are part of the top 16 in the state and that's huge."
"I have played soccer for such a long time - I'm not going to college for it, so this is my last hurrah really. Just being able to play for a day longer is truly a blessing."
Marietta's next test in the Division II bracket is a Fairfield Union outfit which the Tigers are extremely familiar with. Two years ago, the Falcons eliminated Marietta from the postseason. Last year, the Tigers turned the tables and knocked out Fairfield Union en route to a state semifinal appearance.
Marietta carries a 14-4-1 record into the contest. Athens is the host school and Joe Burrow Stadium in The Plaines is the site of the regional semifinal. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
"Fairfield is our good friend," Marietta co-head coach Bill Mannix said chuckled.
"We are good friends with their coach. We've had a good relationship over the years. From a tactical standpoint, we will decide what we will do defensively. On offense, we will attack the same as we have done.
"Our girls have heard how good last year's team was - they've always been challenged. We said if you want to be as good as them - well, they are as good as them."
Against Jackson, Marietta was locked in a scoreless tie at halftime. The Ironladies played a defensive-minded game and tested the Tigers' ability to find any openings in their attack. Halftime adjustments, not necessarily from a tactical standpoint, allowed strikers such as Becker to find the ball close to the crease and score the game-winning goals.
"We had a good halftime talk," Westbrock said. "I'm not disclosing what we chatted about, but we made some changes. Mindset changes. Changes in the field. And that definitely showed, especially with Millie Becker.
"I was so excited. I was on the bench at the time of the goals, so I was just jumping up and down, hugging about everyone. That really got the job done so then we could kind of reverse it and pack it in on them. As good as it sounds to have a high scoring game, it's just as important to get the win and get it done safely."