Survive and advance is a popular mantra for teams maneuvering through the postseason and that’s just what Madison did in beating visiting Chardon 2-1 in double overtime to win a Division I sectional title on Thursday.
The Blue Streaks broke a scoreless tie with 16 minutes remaining in regulation, but the Hilltoppers scored the equalizer with five minutes left to force the first overtime. Madison notched the game-winning goal two minutes into the second overtime.
“I think when they scored the one right before the end of the game, they scored it because we were afraid to lose and we backed off of them,” said Madison coach Chad Butler. “The speech that I gave them going into overtime was, “Hey, you’ve got to go out and play to win. You can’t be afraid to lose, you have to go out and get it.’” They did that. We dominated possession a lot in overtime and created the corner that eventually led to the goal.”
A back-and-forth affair leaned toward Madison after sophomore Kennedy Ross scored the first goal of the game in the 64th minute.
“Reese Meister took the ball to the sideline and took it deep and then played it across trying to find Lily Van Kirk on the back post but it too a deflection off a Chardon defender and dropped right to Kennedy Ross,” Butler said. “She had a nice little touch around a defender right in front of her and then she slotted it home.”
Madison left an opening for Chardon’s Teagan Sprague, who tied the game with five minutes remaining.
After a scoreless first overtime, the Blue Streaks amped up their aggressiveness and created a corner kick attempt early in the second extra period.
Fortunately, Madison prepared for that exact situation, and junior defender Sarah Forster punched in the game-winner.
“The corner kick we earned was exactly what we planned,” Butler said. “We practiced the formation at the end of practice (Wednesday) and where our targets were. It was either supposed to go to Abby (Forster) or Sarah Forster, her sister, on the back post. She found Abby and she put it in the back of the net.”
With the win, Madison improved to 11-5-2 on the year.
“I’m extremely proud of them to take the game and make it theirs,” Butler said. “Chardon did a great job defending and they have an awesome keeper—and so do we. I think they had PKs in mind and I felt that the longer it went on without us taking it the less our confidence would be. I was really glad to see them take it into overtime and not go into a PK shootout or lengthy overtime.”
Madison’s Taylor MacAdam recorded seven saves to anchor a defense that rose to the challenge.
“I remember at the beginning of the season when we were practicing, you know switching and covering marks and everything,” Butler said. “I was yelling at them saying you guys have not played enough to be doing this silently. You need to call out marks and you need to call out switches. Now, at the end of the season, they’re moving and covering for each other without a word. They all know where they need to be and they’re very disciplined. It’s been great.”
The 14th-seeded Blue Streaks advanced to play at No. 1 Walsh Jesuit in a Division I district semifinal on Oct. 23.
⚽️ Madison junior GK Taylor MacAdam discusses her side’s 2-1 D1 sectional final extra-time win over Chardon
IMO, a breakout 8-save performance, 3 of which were top drawer – the 1 on Teagan Sprague in the 32nd is a tough judgment call she handled well vs. a skilled striker pic.twitter.com/d5BI8hIgWa— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 20, 2023
More CVC Scores:
Boys Soccer
- Beachwood 8, Liberty 0
- Kirtland 8, Cornerstone 0
- Independence 7, Columbia 0
- Crestwood 1, Bristol 0
- Wickliffe 2, Berkshire 1
- Andrews 10, Cardinal 0
Volleyball
- Independence 3, VASJ 0
- Chagrin Falls 3, Woodridge 2
- Edgewood 3, Field 0
- Crestview 3, Beachwood 0
- Marlington 3, Conneaut 0
- Mentor 3, Lakeside 1
- Copley 3, Hawken 2
- Lake Catholic 3, Wickliffe 0
