Eaton’s girls soccer team celebrates its first sectional title since 2018-19 with a 1-0 win over Franklin on Thursday, Oct. 19.
EATON — After posting back-to-back shutouts, Eaton’s girls soccer claimed its first sectional title since the 2018-19 season.
Eaton, the No. 8 seed in the Division II Central 2 bracket, pulled off a first-round upset over No. 7 Franklin Archbishop Fenwick, 2-0, on Monday, Oct. 16.
Three days later, the Eagles hosted No. 9 Franklin in a game decided by a penalty kick with just under nine minutes left, as Eaton won 1-0.
With the win, Eaton (13-5-1), now winners of a school record 13 games, were scheduled to travel to No. 1 seed Waynesville on Monday, Oct. 23 for a district semifinal matchup. The two teams met on Oct. 5 with the Spartans claiming an 8-1 win over and Eaton team that starts six freshmen.
Against Franklin, the teams battled through a slight rain until the game’s final 10 minutes when the skies opened and brought a steadier rain.
A physical game was decided when the Wildcats were called for a foul inside the box, setting up Eaton freshman Myla Roberts PK attempt. She calmly put the ball into the back of the net to put her team ahead 1-0.
Over the final 8-plus minutes, the Eagles were able to keep Franklin, who beat Eaton 1-0 in the first game of the year, out of the net.
“It’s nice to get revenge. I just wish we did it in a more dominating fashion where we left no doubt we were the better team,” Eaton coach Kevin Schaeffer said. “But it’s a win and we’ll take it.
Eaton now has 10 shutouts on the season, which according to Schaeffer is a new school record.
Against Fenwick, Adie Heggs netted both goals.
“They hung in there,” Schaeffer said of the win over Franklin. “The defense has played well, in the last half of the season, especially. I think this is the first time we’ve won two tournament games. And they were two tough games. It wasn’t like we got a cupcake in there somewhere.”
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
