Win over Blue Streaks sets up rematch with Perkins in district semifinal

Evelyn Boyett had a goal and four assists in the 8-0 win over Sandusky in the Division III sectional final. / Pride of the Panthers

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

Six different players recorded a point and coach Jeremiah McNutt got players up and down his roster solid minutes as the Maumee girls soccer team won its Division III playoff opener, 8-0, over visiting Sandusky.

Miriam Findling had a hat trick to lead the Panthers (8-7-2) with three goals. Malaya Jones added two goals, and Shannon Tolbert had a goal.

Evelyn Boyett had a goal and four assists, Charley Bischoff had a goal and two assists, and Ainsley Heckman had an assist.

“Playing a team of that caliber can turn into a ‘track meet’ officially,” McNutt said of facing the winless Blue Streaks. “The girls avoided that and played our game.

“I knew if we played our game, everyone would get good playing time. Instead of ending the game in the first half and not everyone playing, we played everyone good minutes.”

The win puts Maumee back in the district tournament, where it is looking for a third straight district title.

The Panthers will face top-seeded Sandusky Perkins at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Lake High School. The two schools played to a 0-0 draw in the season-opener for both squads.

Before that tie, Maumee had won two straight games over the Pirates. The matchup has become something of a rivalry between the two quality programs.

“Perkins is a very good team that I love playing,” McNutt said. “It's been a very good game every time we play. I'm not expecting anything different.

“For us to advance we just need to play our game and finish in the corners of the goal. If we can hit the corners on our shots. We should have a favorable outcome.”

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com