Perrysburg exploded for five goals in the first half against Notre Dame in the second game of a special Friday Night Futbol doubleheader and rolled to a 7-2 win at Steinecker Stadium.
Perrysburg juniors Emma Ogdahl, Camille Francis, and Sophie Mitchell each scored two goals. Sophomore Elyza Bird also scored in the season opener for a Yellow Jackets team that went 20-1-1 last season.
Ogdahl scored two goals over the first 26 minutes of the game, while Francis scored late in the first half and early in the second.
“It was very good, all-around team play by us,” said Perrysburg coach Jorge Diaz, who was named Ohio's Division I coach of the year last season. “We felt confident and we feel that we can roll with these teams.”
Perrysburg struck first when Ogdahl scored exactly 15 minutes into the contest.
“Our mentality, our prep all week, was we knew that Notre Dame is a great program, and so our philosophy was teamwork,” said Ogdahl, who is one of nine returning starters. “It can't be individual. We can't be selfish. We're all one group. So coming into the season, we've already clicked and are flowing.”
Notre Dame tied it back up on a terrific goal from Maya Spencer. Spencer lofted a perfectly placed shot from long distance that sailed over the head of Perrysburg goalie Tori Trzcinski and just under the crossbar to make it 1-1.
“When they scored, we stepped into a different gear, and then we put up some goals right away,” Diaz said.
Bird re-established the Perrysburg lead for good when she scored on an assist from Ogdahl that made it 2-1.
Notre Dame goalie Libby Wisniewski then made a great save on Ogdahl. But Ogdahl quickly pounced on the rebound and scored to make it 3-1 with 13:40 go to in the opening half.
Mitchell then staked the Yellow Jackets to a three-goal lead when she scored on an assist from Alexis Kaufold with 11:16 left in the half.
Francis gave Perrysburg a 5-1 cushion just moments after Wisniewski made a sensational save on her. Francis scored on the ensuing corner kick to put the Yellow Jackets up by four with 1:34 left in the opening half.
Wisniewski then made one more stellar save on a point-blank shot from Lauren McConnachie at the first-half buzzer.
“Despite the score, there were some really competitive moments,” Notre Dame coach Chip Smith said. “It's two good teams with a great crowd. I thought we were a little bit nervous in the first half. Perrysburg is just fun to watch. Every kid can strike the ball. But I was really impressed with our mentality in the second half, how we responded.”
After Francis scored her second of the night just over four minutes into the second half, Notre Dame scored on another shot from distance when Bailey Becker scored with a well-placed lofting shot that made it 6-2 with 16:44 remaining.
Wisniewski then stopped a potential hat trick by Francis with 25 minutes left.
“I've never seen a scoreline like this where I was 100 percent certain that my goalkeeper played really well,” Smith said.
Mitchell then scored her second goal on a quick pass within the box from Byrd.
Francis and Ogdahl both made the All-Ohio first team last fall. “I think that we have a two-headed monster,” Diaz said. “It's very hard to defend both of them.”
Perrysburg defeated Notre Dame twice last season, including 5-2 in the regional semifinals. The schools will not meet again this season because of divisional re-alignment by the OHSAA.
Perrysburg's 2012 state-champion girls team was recognized at halftime. Diaz was a co-coach of that team with Margaret Bernard.
“That was kind of motivational,” Diaz said. “For these girls, they can look and see what can be done. And I think we have the talent to do that. The only difference, my 2012 team was a great team. These guys are learning to become one.”
Ogdahl called the recognition absolutely motivating.
“We look at the record board walking into practice every day and we know that could be us,” she said. “We really think we have a chance if we can learn how to flow together even better.”
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