John Glenn girls soccer had to adapt. The Muskies are now playing their best ball.

NEW CONCORD — When Riley Zamensky suffered a knee injury this summer, John Glenn had to adapt.

It took time for the Muskies to find themselves, but their play has been more consistent in the second half of the season.

John Glenn, the third seed, put it on display during Monday's Division III tournament game, scoring three times in the first 12 minutes in a 6-0 win over fifth seed Zanesville.

"We had to change the way we played. It took time, but we've figured it out over the past month," John Glenn coach Clay Wilkins said. "Our passing game has been better, and it's more than Riley scoring. We've had several players step up, and our wings, Kira (Kaiser) and Ella (Starrett), have developed their games.

"Defensively, Alaina (Berry) and Olivia (Perrin) had to change roles so it was a process for us," he added. "This team has gelled well, and we're playing good soccer right now."

Muskies lean on fast start

Zamensky led the John Glenn charge, scoring at the 36:26 mark of the first half, while Starrett used an Estelle Matheney assist and putting the ball past Zanesville keeper Reyna Dalton about four minutes later for a 2-0 lead.

Zamensky then found Kira Kaiser for a three-goal advantage with 28 minutes remaining. She felt the early strikes allowed the Muskies (11-5-1) to settle in quickly.

"It took weight off our shoulders, and we just ran with it," Zamensky said. "We've had people step into new roles, and we're moving the ball better now. We also trust our defense, and they played well. We played our game like we have been the last month."

The Muskies took a 5-0 lead into halftime with two goals over the final 10 minutes of the first half. Zamensky added her second goal off a Kaiser assist then Kaiser knocked in her second goal on a Zamensky assist.

Zamensky capped her hat trick less than 90 seconds into the second half on Kaiser's second assist.

Zamensky admitted it took time to adjust, but she and her fellow Muskies have found their rhythm.

"I was used to being go, go, go and being relied on, but I had to switch the way I played. The team did the same," she said. "It has taken our time to find our groove, but I feel like we're playing our best right now."

John Glenn keeper Faith Lemon made 14 saves on 14 shots, while Dalton finished with five stops for Zanesville (8-8-2).

The Muskies advanced to play fourth seed Dover, a 5-0 winner over New Philadelphia, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at a site to be determined.

John Glenn bested the Crimson Tornadoes 1-0 in overtime for the district title last season.

"We have a tough district and have to work through it," Wilkins said. "We're hoping for another chance at Tri-Valley. We played them early, so we'd like to have that game again."

bhannahs@gannett.com; X: @brandonhannahs

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: John Glenn girls soccer had to adapt. The Muskies are now playing their best ball.