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If Clay can start generating more offense, coach Scott Wamer will soon become just the 16th girls soccer coach in Ohio High School Athletic Association history to win 100 games.
Wamer, in his 11th season at Clay, entered Wednesday's home game against St. Ursula Academy with a 99-58-20 career record. The Arrows, however, held on for a 2-1 victory and sent the Eagles (2-4) - who also lost at Central Catholic by a 2-1 margin last Wednesday - to their third straight loss.
Junior striker Abby Groll scored in the second half to pull Clay within 2-1 against St. Ursula, which led 2-0 at halftime under wet, windy conditions.
“They had the wind at their backs in the first half, which made a huge difference,” Wamer said.
The coach, who said this is one of the youngest teams he's had at Clay, can get his 100th career win on Saturday at home against Rocky River.
“Ninety-nine wins is a pretty big mark in Ohio,” Wamer said. “When they asked me to take over the program, that (100 wins) was one of the goals I set for myself. Clay soccer used to basically be a club program. It was all Oregon Rec kids and I had a hard time getting programs across northwest Ohio - let alone the state - to play us. We just weren't competitive.
“In 2006-07 we were ranked 10th in the state in the final coaches' poll, so we've made huge strides. I wanted to prove the naysayers wrong.”
In the past 10 years, the Eagles have won three league titles and Wamer has twice been voted Division I Northwest District Coach of the Year.
The Eagles struggled to a 5-10-2 mark last season, their final year in the Northwest Ohio High School Scholastic Soccer League (NWOHSSSL). Clay is now a member of the Three Rivers Athletic Conference along with such teams as St. Ursula, Notre Dame Academy, Findlay, Whitmer and Fremont Ross. Eight schools play girls soccer in the TRAC.
“I love it,” Wamer said of joining the new conference. “We were playing Findlay every year as a non-conference game, and now we are adding Whitmer, Fremont Ross and Lima Senior. I love the idea (of the TRAC) and I think we are going to compete with the NLL. The NLL has gotten all the hype for girls’ soccer, but I think we can play with the NLL.”
The Eagles already have played four NLL teams in 2011. They beat Bowling Green (2-1) and Springfield (7-1) and have lost to sixth-ranked Perrysburg (8-2) and Anthony Wayne (4-0). Clay and AW were tied, 0-0, at halftime; the Eagles lost to Central Catholic last week despite holding the Irish to four shots on goal.
“We dominated play on them,” Wamer said, “but we couldn't put the ball in the net.”
Groll currently leads Clay in scoring, with three goals and three assists.
“Abby's learning a new position,” Wamer said. “She's always played outside midfielder, and I have her up at striker because of her speed and ball skills. She'll grow into that role, and she's still learning.”
Freshman outside midfielder Kara Simon has three goals this season.
“Kara is a pleasant surprise,” Wamer said. “Her older sister, Eryn, played four years as a varsity starter. Kara brings a nice presence for us at the outside mid position. She has some good foot skills and enough leg strength that she can cross the ball for us. And, she has good speed.”
Honnah Susor, a sophomore striker/center midfielder, has two goals while junior utility player Kendyl Christian has one goal and two assists.
“Honnah paid her dues last year,” Wamer said. “She was our only freshman playing varsity and it's paying off this year. She is starting to come into her own and she's going to be a special player by the time she's done.”
Christian, who has one goal and two assists this season, led Clay in scoring last year with 16 points (7 goals, 2 assists).
“She plays all over for us and is just really talented,” Wamer said. “She probably has the best ball skills on the team. She has the most soccer awareness and is by far our best distributor.”
Freshman striker Morgan Connor, sophomore center midfielder/fullback Hayley Kubicki and sophomore outside midfielder Nyla Sanders all have one goal and one assist this season. Kayla Kovacs (two assists) and Katlyn Seimet are the team's lone seniors.
Wamer said he has been impressed with junior fullback Kasey O'Shea, who has one assist.
“Out of all our players, Kasey has been the biggest surprise,” the coach said. “We moved her from outside mid to fullback and she brought a lot of stability and speed to our defense.”
Sophomore keeper Alyssa Heintschel, who had 28 saves prior to Wednesday's game against SUA, was a second-team all-league and all-district pick a year ago.
“She has instincts, athleticism and intelligence,” Wamer said. “She has the total package. She is one of the top keepers in northwest Ohio, in any division.”
The TRAC coaches picked Clay to finish fifth in the conference this season.
“This is one of my deepest teams; I'm not afraid to go to any girl off the bench,” Wamer said. “We are getting back to that point where we're going to be one of the better teams in northwest Ohio - soon.”
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