Quinn Libby scored twice to lead Westerville Central past host Delaware Hayes 3-0 in girls soccer non-league action Tuesday night in Delaware.
Sydney Kapral sent a shot from the right side that went off the post and Libby recovered the rebound and tapped it in with 35:16 left in the first half.
Leah Wunsch put in a penalty shot for a goal after a foul in the box to put Central (2-0-1), which beat the Pacers 4-0 in Westerville to open the 2015 season, up 2-0 with 30:23 left in the game.
“The first goal (was) just an unlucky break and came right to (Libby’s) feet,” Hayes coach Bradd Smiley said. “The second goal was a P.K. We definitely took a step in the right direction (from last year’s game).”
Libby ran down a perfect lead pass by Kennedy Wells and put it in for the final margin with 1:54 left in the game.
“We knew (Central) was a good team — a solid team that was going to press up and down the field — and I thought our girls handled that very well and actually played a good match,” Smiley said.
Smiley said Delaware is doing everything well right now, except putting shots on goal.
“It’s not like we’re taking shots in training — that’s what we work on is finishing, finishing, finishing,” Smiley said. “That’s just something (that will work out) as we get more cohesive.”
The Pacers controlled much of the action after the first-half goal, but couldn’t get in position for a quality shot on Warhawk goalkeeper Arianna Kellum, who made three saves in the first half and five overall.
“We were crossing and not putting it in or not putting enough on it,” Smiley said. “We gotta keep working at it, working at it, working it and just get over that hump. At some point it’s going to break, and when it does I think it’s going to open the floodgates for us and we’re going to be a very, very hard offense to stop.”
Meanwhile, Ahdrin Bordner had a solid game in goal for the Pacers, stopping eight shots, including five in the second half for Delaware (0-1-1).
The Pacers open OCC-Cardinal play at home against Hilliard Darby Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m.
Also: Big Walnut 5, Worthington Kilbourne 0; Olentangy 3, Grove City 1.
GIRLS TENNIS
The Olentangy Liberty girls tennis team earned a solid win over one of its sister schools Thursday, sweeping the singles courts on the way to a 4-1 OCC-Buckeye Division win over visiting Orange.
Patriot winners included Lexi Steer, who beat Erin Storrer 7-5, 6-2 at first singles; Sidney Reineke, who handled Kortney Reed 6-1, 6-2 at second singles; Cellini Ko, who beat Livie Mauger 6-3, 6-1 at third singles; and the duo of Ellie MacDowell and Cecilia Ko, who beat Abby Butler and Hannah Logan 6-2, 6-1 at second doubles.
The Pioneers’ lone win came at first doubles, where Mary Damko and Izzy Prislusky knocked off Makayla Schaefer and Lexie Brengartner.
Big Walnut 5, Canal Winchester 0
The Golden Eagles cruised past the visiting Indians in their first league match of the season, getting wins on all five courts Thursday afternoon in Sunbury.
BW winners included Macie Kercsmar (6-1, 6-2 at first singles), Lindsay Hill (6-0, 6-0 at second singles), Alexandria Kirkpatrick 6-2, 6-3 at third singles), the duo of Kayleigh Cummins and Katie Germann (6-7, 7-5, 1-0 at first doubles) and Maria Boyer and Anna Faust (6-0, 6-4 at second doubles).
Marion Harding 4, Buckeye Valley 1
Alex Margraff won her first match of the young season Thursday, outlasting visiting Marion Pleasant’s Hunter Stoneburger at third singles.
The junior won the first set 6-4 and, after dropping the second by a slim 6-7 margin, won the third 11-9 to seal the deal.
GIRLS GOLF
Thursday’s tri-match between Olentangy, Orange and Worthington Kilbourne came down to the wire, with the Braves clipping the Pioneers by a single stroke to take top honors at Blackhawk Golf Club.
Olentangy scorers included Leila Raines (38), Alex Cardi (38), Kara Raines (41), Maddie Gwinn (44) and Taylor Renzi (54).
The Pioneers, meanwhile, were led by Riley Dean’s one-over-par 36 — a mark good enough to earn her medalist honors. Other Orange scorers included Ashley Au (39), Emily Fisher (43), Brittany Miller (44) and Rachael Nobile (50).
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
It wasn’t easy, but Liberty outlasted visiting Gahanna to notch a three-set, non-league win Thursday in Powell.
After winning the first set by a semi-comfortable 25-17 margin, the Patriots slipped past the Lions 25-24 in the second and 30-28 in the third.
Madison Brenner led the Liberty attack with 10 kills while Heather Littlejohn added eight. Other standouts included Haylie Beck, who finished with a team-best four aces; Cameryn Dyer, who had a team-leading 27 digs; Lindsey Merrels, who had eight blocks; and Maddie Fogg, who ran the offense with 28 assists.
Olentangy 3, Upper Arlington 1
The Braves dropped the first set, but won the final three on the way to an impressive non-league win Thursday in Upper Arlington.
After losing the first set 16-25, Olentangy won the next three by respective scores of 28-26, 25-10 and 25-23.
Olivia Margolies boosted the Braves with 12 kills and 11 digs. Lexie Weithman was also solid, finishing with 14 digs, while Gabby Trees added 22 assists.
Also: Big Walnut 3, Westerville Central 2.
BOYS SOCCER
Dublin Jerome 1, Orange 0; Liberty 1, New Albany 1; Worthington Kilbourne 2, Big Walnut 1.
