Competition driving Rosecrans' improvement
ZANESVILLE — Danny Maxwell is pleased with the progress of the Rosecrans girls soccer program.
The Bishops have faced some of Central Ohio's top Division III programs, going 10-4 before Wednesday's Mid-State League matchup with Worthington Christian, which is ranked No. 2 in the state for Division III.
The Warriors scored first, but Chloe Zemba's corner kick went to Sydnee Maxwell, who blasted the ball past Warrior keeper Amelia Wilson at the 30:23 mark of the first half to tie the match at 1 at Mattingly Field.
However, the 13th-ranked Bishops struggled to find other offensive opportunities, while Worthington Christian found the net three more times in the first half and added another in the second to earn a 5-1 victory.
The Warriors improved to 8-3-1, while Rosecrans dropped to 10-5. Both teams will be competing in the Division III Central District tournament, which starts in mid-October.
The Bishops have wins over Division II Buckeye Valley and Whitehall and Division III Fisher Catholic, Liberty Union, Wellington, Columbus Academy and Bishop Ready.
Columbus School of Girls, Grandview Heights and Tree of Life, all also in Division III, have handed Rosecrans three of its other four losses.
"We're playing good soccer, but we get to see what it will take to get to that next level," Maxwell said. "Worthington Christian is one of the top programs in Central Ohio, like Grandview Heights and Bexley have been. Playing teams like them will help us get to that next level, and that's the goal we've set for ourselves."
The Warriors' depth also proved to be the difference. Four different players scored in the first half, as Faith King notched the game's first goal on an assist by Audrey Meadows at the 35:13 mark.
After Maxwell tied it, Elle Skidmore made it 2-1 with a kick from the right side of the box, which sailed over Rosecrans keeper Kate Ward with 27 minutes left in the first half.
Madeleine Hulme added the Warriors' next goal, lofting a bouncing ball over Ward with just under five minutes left in the first half, and a minute later, Meadows drilled a low drive that ricocheted off the post and into the net for a 4-1 halftime lead.
King added the game's final goal at the 34:41 mark of the second half.
"They have many different ways to attack you," Maxwell noted of the Warriors. "We've been good defensively, especially against one-dimensional teams, but they are multi-dimensional. It's one of the reasons they are ranked among the best in the state."
Rosecrans also honored its seniors, Zemba, Ella Lambert, Caitlyn Wilson and Jenna McLaughlin, before the game. The four have been key contributors throughout their careers, and Maxwell has appreciated their leadership in showing the underclassmen what's expected in the program.
"The seniors come out and grind every day. They've been at this since middle school and know what it takes to get to the top as a program," Maxwell said. "They're following the leaders who came before them and taking their turn in keeping the program headed in the right direction. They are also having fun and enjoying their final season of high school soccer. I'm blessed to be able to coach a group like them."
bhannahs@gannett.com; @brandonhannahs
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Competition driving Rosecrans' improvement
