ELYRIA — Three different players scored for Elyria Catholic and goalkeeper Megan Miehls posted her sixth shutout of the season Monday night at Knights of Columbus Field.
The result was a 3-0 Panther victory over Keystone in a Rocky River Division II sectional-district tournament opener. It set the stage for a sectional final showdown between EC and Avon at 7 p.m. Thursday in Avon. The Eagles, who eliminated Brookside on Monday, defeated the Panthers, 3-1, in a season opener on Aug. 23.
The Wildcats (3-13-1) gave EC all it could handle for most of the first half.
“(Keystone) played very well,” said Panthers coach Tom Wolfe. “They gave us a game. We made adjustments and the girls did very well. They adapted and worked hard.”
The Panthers’ Rachel Wilden turned it around when she scored unassisted in the 31st minute for a
1-0 lead. The goal came after Kara Schmittgen bounced a free kick off Keystone goalkeeper Kaylee Skinner and Wilden collared the rebound.
The Panthers (8-8) broke it open early in the second half, scoring two goals within a minute. The first came in the 51st minute from the foot of Michelle Clark off a nifty through-ball from Mimi Rothgery. Less than a minute later, Molly O’Malley scored with an assist from Danielle LoParo.
Keystone had two good opportunities, one in each half. In the 28th minute, Nicole Bregar got the ball to Alyson Broschk, who fired a shot that Miehls saved, but couldn’t contain. Fortunately for the Panthers, Courtney Lutke was there to clear it away.
Then in the 78th minute, Broschk launched a rocket on the EC net and Miehls was forced to leave her feet to make the save. Otherwise, Miehls had a relatively stress-free night, thanks in large part to the defenders in front of her.
“Our sweeper Stephanie Cramer did a great job tonight,” said Miehls, a junior. “She always knows where to place herself on the field and she’s ready to clear the ball out really quickly.”
Keystone coach Gina Grams said she was happy with the Wildcats’ play.
“I’m very pleased with the way we showed improvement through the season,” she said. “We put that together in tonight’s game.”
Contact Bob Daniels at 329-7135
or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

EC 3, Keystone 0

GOALS: (EC) Rachel Wilden (31st minute), Michelle Clark (51st minute), Molly O’Malley (51st minute).
ASSISTS: (EC) Mimi Rothgery, Danielle LoParo.  
SHOTS: Keystone 11, EC 22.
SHOTS ON GOAL: Keystone 6, EC 10.
SAVES: (K) Kaylee Skinner 10, (EC) Megan Miehls 6.
CORNER KICKS: Keystone 2, EC 5.
GOAL KICKS: Keystone 6, EC 1.
OFFSIDE: Keystone 3, EC 3.
HAND BALLS: Keystone 2, EC 4.
FOULS: Keystone 6, EC 4.
CARDS: None.
HALFTIME: EC, 1-0. 

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