KIRTLAND — Kirtland shook off a sluggish start and came alive in the second half, netting two quick goals to secure a 3-0 victory over visiting Cuyahoga Heights in a Chagrin Valley Conference crossover clash on Monday.
The Hornets grabbed a narrow edge just before halftime, but it was their second-half surge that sealed the deal.
“We talked at halftime about calming down and playing the game we know we can,” said senior Megan Urbanick. “We were told to go out there and play hard from the get-go, and we did that in the second half. We made a switch, and it led to the win.”
Kirtland’s breakthrough came in the 39th minute when the Red Wolves accidentally turned the ball into their own net, giving the Hornets a 1-0 lead at the break.
Just two minutes into the second half, Gabby D’Amato doubled the advantage with a pinpoint strike to the corner off a crisp feed from Anna Dumstorff. Moments later, in the 43rd minute, Urbanick threaded a perfect pass to Lexi Vosicky, who buried the shot to make it 3-0 and effectively put the game out of reach.
The Hornets are adjusting to life without one of their top players from last season’s Elite Eight run, and it showed early on. But once they found their rhythm, the game tilted heavily in their favor.
“It’s a big adjustment overall for the team,” Urbanick said. “Those first 40 minutes were our first time playing together like that, and that was us just settling in. Once that happened in the second half, things went up from there.”
Kirtland’s depth, particularly among its younger players, proved to be a difference-maker as the Hornets played without Olivia Pickens, who suffered an injury in a game last week.
“It is a bit harder with one of our star players down, but it allows other players to get more opportunities,” said goalkeeper Katherine Bradshaw, who anchored the shutout. “It gives everyone the opportunity to show how well they can play.”
For Cuyahoga Heights, the loss marked their fourth in six outings, though the Red Wolves remain optimistic.
“We just have to keep our positive attitude,” said defender Mari Hopkins. “We have to play for each other and give it our best.”
Head coach Christy Zawadzki echoed the sentiment, stressing growth over results.
“Each game we get a little bit better, even if it doesn’t show in the win column,” Zawadzki said. “We’re getting comfortable with some things like moving the ball around and working with one another. We have to keep building on our relationships so they keep trusting each other. We’re going to keep working harder at practice, developing more trust in the little things, and hopefully that’ll lead to some success.”
Kirtland will host a conference foe in Rootstown on September 9, while Cuyahoga Heights looks to bounce back when it welcomes Independence on September 11.
