Region 1-1A girls: Maclay shuts out Franklin County

EASTPOINT — Maclay taught a soccer lesson to the new kids on the block Friday night downing Franklin County 7-0 to advance to the Region 1-1A finals.

The Marauder offense controlled the ball nearly the entire contest, beginning at the 5-minute mark when sophomore forward Reanna Leoni scored off a pass from eighth-grader forward Zoe Brigham. It was the first of four goals for Leoni.

A minute later, Brigham scored and the lesson was well under way on a Seahawks squad that earned a district crown in only the second year of the program.

“I told the girls we have nothing to hang our heads about,” Seahawks coach Kelli Maggio said. “We only have room to improve.”

Leoni lofted a 22-yard shot to net her second goal at the 26:22 mark of the first half, and the collected a hat trick when she drove home a Brigham assist less than 2 minutes into the second half.

“I’m really happy we were able to advance to the regional finals,” Leoni said. “That was the goal we set as a team this year and I’m really proud we were able to do that.

“We’re a lot closer this year and we know how to play with each other. We’re more experienced as a whole.”

P.K. Yonge knocked off the Marauders last year in the regional quarterfinals.

Leoni scored her fourth goal with 15 minutes left when a tripping call gave her the opportunity to convert a direct kick. She also assisted freshman Anna Murrah’s tally 3 minutes into the second half.

With little opportunity to handle any Seahawks shots on goal, junior keeper Samantha Bastos assisted in the final minute of play on the Marauders’ final goal by sophomore Olivia Ooten.

“It’s exciting to be back to the elite eight,” Marauders coach Paul Dickson said. “It’s great to push forward. We still have a very young team with middle-schoolers out there on the field. Three seventh-graders played tonight, and two of them started.”