The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Milan downs SMCC, runs streak to five
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007
In their last three road wins, the Big Reds have outscored their opponents 17-1.
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If that's a lopsided number, consider this: the Milan offense has out-shot its three opponents 72-6 in the course of racking up shutouts against Airport and Clinton and a 3-1 win over St. Mary Catholic Central.
"We're playing real well right now," said coach Phil Zuber. "We're riding pretty high."
The Big Reds blitzed Airport 8-0 May 9, scoring seven goals in the first half. Stephanie Sell got a hat trick, scoring three goals in a row to extend Milan's lead to 4-0 after Meredith Rizor opened the score fest.
Kaitlin Eisen earned assists on the first three goals. Tiffany Stacy registered Milan's fifth goal unassisted and Rizor got her second goal of the game to go up seven.
Jessica Young rounded out the scoring with the last two goals, which made her the program's leader in career goals with 51, breaking Natalie Brown's previous record of 49 set in 2004.
Airport marked Young throughout the first half, trying to limit her offensive opportunities, which they did, but at the expense of Sell and Rizor exploiting the opening.
"I could care less which of our forwards a team chooses to mark," Zuber said. "We've made a living on being well-balanced. If they focus on one player, that's the beginning of the end of them."
The Big Reds took down Clinton 6-0 last Friday, out-shooting them 22-1. Sell scored two more goals. Also scoring were Young, Eisen, Rizor and Sarah Towler. Assists went to Stacy, Towler, Young and Rizor.
Sell and Young lead Milan scorers with 12 goals each.
The Big Reds didn't put as many goals on the scoreboard against St. Mary, but came away with a 3-1 win nonetheless.
Milan jumped out to an early 2-0 lead off goals from Jennifer Dennison and Towler, who scored on a free kick. SMCC closed the gap on a penalty kick with less than five minutes remaining in the second half, but not two minutes later Brittany Auten fired a shot on the Kestrels' goal only to have the shot blocked. Sell, though, was there for the rebound and found the back of the net to put the final nail in SMCC's coffin.
Even as opponents are having trouble stopping the Milan offense, they're not having much more luck breaking down the Big Red defense.
"Our defense is continuing to cause opponents grief," said Zuber, "but it has changed drastically. Our defense is faster and may be stronger. We're really dominating in the midfield."
With only four games remaining in the regular season, the 12-1-0 Big Reds are two wins away from tying last year's record of 14 single season wins. They remain ranked in the state just outside the top ten.
The Big Reds are on a roll, flying high and feeling confident.
"There is some nervousness, though," Zuber said. "We've never really been here before. It's a little different to have every team coming at you with 100 percent effort."
Milan battles for the top spot in the Huron League in a re-match against Grosse Ile at home on Monday. The Red Devils won the first contest 2-0, accounting for Milan's lone loss of the season. Milan trails Grosse Ile in league standings by a single point.
"We've got to take care of business," Zuber said.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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