Waynesburg scores early, often to down Brownsville
WAYNESBURG – Trying not to be a one-trick-pony team can be a difficult task.
The Waynesburg High School girls soccer team is making it look pretty easy.
Even though Madison Clayton – one of four seniors honored before the game – scored three goals in Waynesburg’s 10-1 rout of Section 3-AA opponent Brownsville Wednesday night at Raider Field, it was the offensive pressure created by whoever Raider head coach Joe Kijowski substituted into the game that caused Brownsville fits.
The victory extends Waynesburg’s winning streak to nine games.
“I don’t care how many tricks we have as long as we keep winning games,” Kijowski said. “If teams want to believe that we are a one-trick (team) then that’s fine. Madison is a great finisher but the talent around her has improved. When you have a great finisher like her, it allows you to also spread the scoring out, too.”
The scoring for Waynesburg began when junior midfielder Bailey Fudala took a throw-in and found the upper right-hand corner from 25 yards to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead less than three minutes in.
Clayton scored on a Rhea Kijowski’ cross less than eight minutes later, and Kijowski scored in the same top-right corner as Fudala to give the Raiders a 3-0 lead with 16:25 remaining in the first half.
Waynesburg (7-0, 10-1) added to that lead as Clayton scored her second goal when Rhea Kijowski’s shot trickled through Brownsville goalkeeper Alexis Carson and she tapped it into an unguarded net.
Rhea Kijowski, a freshman, then split two Falcon defenders after taking a pass from Kaley Pell to give Waynesburg a 5-0 lead going into halftime.
“We always like to score fast because it’s great for momentum and for the energy level,” said Joe Kijowksi. “In any sport, it’s important to play with a lead. It makes other teams change their game. Our point is to try to make other teams change and for us to stay the same. We like to control the tempo.”
The lone offense Brownsville (4-3, 8-3-1) found came when Gracie Stetson received a pass from Mary Lemesh and beat Waynesburg goalkeeper Mckenzie Booth, cutting the deficit to 6-1 with 34:08 remaining. The lone goal came on only the Falcons second shot of the game.
“Our defense helps lead to the offense,” Joe Kijowski said. “Without defense, we can’t control the ball or score. They all work hand-in-hand but I’m impressed by both.”
Waynesburg extended that lead back to six goals, 7-1, when Jillian Kijowski found Clayton from point-blank exactly 10 minutes after the Brownsville goal to record the hat trick.
“You have to finish and being able to do that is a skill,” Joe Kijowski said. “(Madison) has that skill.”
Kylie Sinn and Fudala each had two goals for the Raiders, and Jillian Kijowksi scored once.
Rhea Kijowksi had four assists to go with her two scores, spoiling Brownsville’s six-game winning streak in the process.
“I think we were up to play Brownsville,” said Joe Kijowksi. “They’ve gotten a lot better and have won games in the section. It’s Senior Night, but even if it wasn’t, I think we would have been ready for them. It’s great to play a game with that type of energy.”