In their most convincing win of the season the Mason Comets dominated the Big Blue of Hamilton 5-0. Mason grabbed the reigns at the opening whistle and never let go.  In the first 15 minutes the Comets out shot Big Blue 7 to 1 holding 90% of the possession and keeping Hamilton scrambling to defend their net.  The Next 15 minutes looked much the same as the Comets out shot the Blue 6 to 1 and forced Hamilton's keeper to make several nice saves to hold the score at nil.  The Comets were finding success by moving the ball forward thru their midfield much more quickly.  In the finishing 3rd, the 3 Comet attackers up top were working together with a level of coordination not previously demonstrated.  

The next 8 minutes were the lone bright spot for the Blue as the game became messy and Hamilton was able to push the ball into the Comet's half more regularly.  Shots during this melee were even at 0-0.  The Comets regained their possessive advantage for the last 2 minutes of the game and made a final surge towards the goal; with just 30 seconds left in the half Annie Metzger fired a cross off the left flank that Tori Bonno was able to chest and juggle twice, at the 6 mid-goal, and finally advance enough for Allison Winterhalter to come streaking off the left side and bury a beautiful slant into the far post side netting.  With this final minute crescendo the ice was broken and so was the spirit of the Hamilton Team that had struggled so valiantly to keep their sheet clean.

The half ended with the Comets out shooting the Blue 15 to 2 with 2 Corners to 0.  While no saves were required Emma Schewe did pounce courageously on a ball inside her 6 at the 20th minute to takeaway what looked like would become a good look for Hamilton.

With the door pried open and a spirit broken the outcome of the second half may have been inevitable.  In the 45th minute Olivia Popovich went on a long journey from her central defensive position to earn a hard fought corner for Annie Metzger which Pop appropriately headed directly into the back of the net.  One minute later Tori Bonno fired a cross off the right side that found its way through a hoard of players to Olivia Polnow on the back post for the 3rd tally of the match.  In the 50th minute Allison Winterhalter demonstrated exceptional vision to find Annie Metzger 40 yards down field for #4.  In the 77th minute Mackenzie Berryman headed in a nice cross from Lexi Lucius to put the icing on the cake at 5-0.  For the game the Comets out shot the Blue 29, 19 on target, to 4, 2 on target.  The Comets earned 6 fouls and 5 corners to Hamilton's 1 foul and 2 corners.  Emma Schewe and Julia Shutrump each made 1 save in combining for their 11th clean sheet of the season.  And, it must not go unnoticed that the Comet defense anchored by Olivia Popovich and Catherine Berry have delivered 8 consecutive shutouts propelling Mason to 7-0-1 in their last 8 starts. 

The Comets now 10-2-3 (6-0-2) travel to #4 ranked Fairfield 11-3-1 (7-0-1) on Thursday at 7:00 for what has become a winner take all GMC Championship match.  The Comets will need to defeat the Indians on their home land to claim the prize.  

 

Mason will play a non-conference match versus Seton on Thursday, Oct. 12th at home.

Mason (17-2, 9-0) girls volleyball will conclude their 2017 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 14trh at Dublin Coffman.