Lady Leopards Upset Copley 2-0 to Advance to 1st District Title Game – Girls Soccer
#22 Louisville 2, #10 Copley 0
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The #22 seed Louisville Leopards Girls Soccer Team upset the #10 seed Copley Indians in the DIII Macedonia District Semifinals Monday Night at Copley-Fairlawn Stadium. With their third straight victory, Louisville improves to 10-4-2 on the season in advancing to their first district title game in team history. They will challenge the #24 seed Aurora Greenmen in the DIII Macedonia District Championship on Saturday, October 26 at 7:00 PM from Nordonia’s Boliantz Stadium.
Varsity Recap | Varsity Box Score
Schillig Puts Lady Leopards In Front
Defense dominated the first 15 minutes of action and the game remained scoreless. After a goal kick by the Leopards, the Indians intercepted a pass past the midfield stripe. However, Louisville’s Payton Allan quickly stole the ball right back and found herself in space past two Indian defenders. She then pushed the ball ahead between multiple defenders to Alyssa Schillig who was sprinting ahead on the right side of the penalty box.
A defender followed Schillig to her left as the Copley goalkeeper came charging, diving after the ball. Schillig caught up to the ball and split it between the two Indians players. The ball rolled perfectly into the left side of the net to give the Leopards a critical 1-0 lead with 24:51 to play in the first half.
Riley Adds to Louisville Lead Before Half
Louisville threatened again with less than 90 seconds to play before halftime. A Copley defender was able to get a touch on on the ball in the right corner of the field as Schillig came charging in from behind. Schillig’s hustled forced the defender to make a quick pass back to the goalkeeper that headed toward the end line. The Goalkeeper tried to keep it out but kicked it right back to Schillig in the process.
Schillig took control of the ball and centered it to Reese Riley who was wide open in the middle of the box for an easy shot attempt. She banged it off a defender in the middle of the goal and into the right side of the net to make it 2-0 with 1:18 remaining in the first half.
Leopards Advance to 1st District Championship
Neither team would score again as the game ended in a 2-0 Leopard shutout.
Louisville had been 0-3 in district semifinal games prior to this season, all three of which came in Division I. The OHSAA moved to seven divisions for soccer this season and the Lady Leopards are advancing to the District Finals for the first time in program history.
Louisville is now 12-21 all-time in the postseason, which includes a 5-18 record when playing on the road in the tournament. This marks the sixth playoff shutout by the Lady Leopards in team history.
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Another New Opponent in Aurora on Saturday
The Indians finish 11-5-2 on the season with the loss. Louisville and Copley had never played previously in girls soccer. The Indians are the 73rd unique opponent Louisville girls soccer has faced all-time and the 17th different school they have taken on in the postseason.
The Lady Leopards will challenge another new foe when they play the Aurora Greenmen on Saturday, in search of the first ever district title. Aurora (10-7-1) upset #6 seed Canfield (14-4-0) 3-2 on Wednesday in their district semifinal. The Greenmen also upset #16 seed West Geauga 2-1 in the sectional finals last week.
UP NEXT: The #22 seed Lady Leopards will next take on the #24 seed Aurora Greenmen in the DIII Macedonia District Championship Game on Saturday, October 26. Game time is set for 7:00 PM from Nordonia’s Boliantz Stadium.
Cover Photo By Athletic Director Terrie Horn
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Louisville at Copley Girls Soccer Box Score
LEOPARDS 2, INDIANS 0
Team 1-2–TOTAL
Louisville 2-0–02
Copley 0-0–00
1st Half
LOUISVILLE – Alyssa Schillig (Payton Allan) | LHS 1, CHS 0, 24:51
LOUISVILLE – Reese Riley (Alyssa Schillig) | LHS 2, CHS 0, 1:18
2nd Half
NO SCORING
Records: Louisville 10-4-2, Copley 11-5-2