Hawks jelling as late-season surge continues in 7-0 win over Rittman

Entering the final five games of the season, Hiland soccer coach Scott Bodiker said it was time for his team to step up to the next level if they wanted to compete for a berth at the state tournament.
The Hawks had just gotten past a brutal run of league games in which they played their best opponents of the season in Cuyahoga Christian Valley Academy and Western Reserve, and played both to ties. Bodiker said that if the team was to reach their lofty expectations this season, they needed to begin putting away teams they should beat.
Hiland did just that in knocking off New Philadelphia 6-0 last Tuesday, Sept. 29, and then annihilating Rittman 7-0 on Saturday, in a contest in which the Hawks outshot the Indians 20-1.
“It’s time to start getting on a roll,” said Bodiker. “Our offense is starting to get into a rhythm now, and is gaining confidence, and our defense has been solid all season long.”
Any chance Rittman had of at least competing in this game went out the door in the first 15 minutes, when Hiland posted a 4-0 lead. Cody Miller fed Josh Yoder to open the scoring in the game’s third minute. Danny Beachy then posted assists to Noah Boyd and Braden Conn at the sixth and 13th minute, and two minutes later, Miller produced a goal on his own, beating a pair of Indian defenders before driving one past Rittman goalie Cory Williams.
Cameron Miller made the score 5-0 right before intermission, Beachy scored a goal on his own to begin the second half and Dylan Kaufman hit Luke Burch in the 64th minute to make it 7-0. From there on, the Hawks (7-2-4) played keep-away from Rittman (1-10). In goal, Kaufman, Thomas Troyer and Glen Miller provided the shutout, Hiland’s eighth in 13 games this season.
The JV improved to 9-2-2 on the season with a 5-0 shutout, which was the reserve’s sixth shutout of the campaign.