Kirtland Shuts Out Beachwood Girls Soccer 3-0

’s (2-2-0) girls soccer team was out-shot by Kirtland 34-6, yet only allowed three goals in a shutout loss on their home field Thursday. The defending Chagrin Valley Conference champions controlled most of the game as the Bison took a conservative approach with stout defense.

“We set up with a defensive shape, but we had all intent on building on our scoring opportunities,” Beachwood head coach Art Skupniewicz said. “We had them in the first half.”

That opportunity came five minutes into the game when freshman Lexi Stovsky passed the ball from the box to freshman Hannah Firstone the right wing. Firstone sent a great pass back towards the goal for an easy tap in by senior Rachel Zimmerman, but an off sides call negated the goal.

The game was quiet until the 10-minute mark of the first half when Kirtland senior Morgan Choe scored off of a strong shot from the right side of the box. Despite playing most of the game on the defensive side, Beachwood only trailed the Hornets 1-0 at halftime.

Choe struck again early in the second, scoring off of a beautiful entry throw from senior Julianne Straus. Choe then created space in the middle of the box and connected.

“We played wide along the wings and crossed the ball in,” Kirtland head coach Edward Bradac said. “We had to pull them out of the middle and that’s where we were able to get a couple of goals in the second half.”

Choe completed her hat trick with about five minutes to play, capping a crazy sequence with a header into the net.

“(Choe) is a tireless worker,” Bradac said of his captain. “Tonight we told her to go to goal and be selfish with her play to score.”

Beachwood’s freshman keeper Alex Mintz had a big game despite the loss. The Bison were out-shot 34-6, but Mintz recorded a number of spectacular saves totaling 16 on the day. In comparison, the Bison took just six shots and Kirtland’s sophomore keeper Maggie Reilly only made three saves.

“Alex has been looking for a breakout game and today may have been it,” Skupniewicz said.

Beachwood also has to deal with a number of injuries to key starters, most recently junior Julia Winkeler, who . Also out is sophomore defender Alex Somogyi and freshman defender/midfielder Emmy Schwarz.

“Putting so many kids in positions they might not be used to is asking a lot of a young team,” Skupniewicz said. “Given the score and how well they played for most of the game, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Beachwood begins a seven-game road stretch next week. First up is Andrews Osborne Academy next Tuesday at 5 p.m. then the Bison travel to CVC rival Independence on Thursday for a 7 p.m. match. Beachwood returns home on Saturday, Sept. 24, for a 10 a.m. match against Cornerstone.