Elyria tops Midview, breaks long drought

Dicken scores goal, adds an assist as Elyria breaks victory drought

After struggling the past couple of years against Midview, Elyria finally broke through on Aug. 19.

Tied at halftime, the host Pioneers broke out with three goals in the second half. Sophomore Isaac Dicken scored one of his two goals in the second half and added an assist, leading Elyria to a 4-1 season-opening nonconference win. It is the first time in four years Elyria has beaten Midview.

“It’s a first for me since I have been back,” Elyria coach Brett

Heighberger said. “I like this cross-town match-up of the first week of the season … (I’ll) definitely take the win. It was nice to put the ball in the back of the net a few times, which we have struggled with before in the past.”

Though very young, Midview that struck first with Damond Mathis beating Elyria goalkeeper Sabastian Delcorral almost halfway through the first half. Delcorral managed to get a hand on the ball, but Roman’s shot was hard enough to get into the goal.

After a few near-misses, the Pioneers tied the game with Dicken taking a pass from Ali Al-Mukdad and beating Middies goalie Cole Thompson in the lower lefthand corner to tie the game at one with less than nine minutes remaining in the first half.

At halftime, Elyria made a few adjustments. Though it took a bit of time, the results were resounding.

Going over the top of Midview’s defense, the Pioneers opened things up, which resulted in better shots on goal.

Dicken was the first benefactor of the scheme, drilling his strike from 30 yards out past a diving Thompson to broke the deadlock midway through the second half.

Six minutes later, Dicken notched his third point of the game, feeding Devin Barbee, who got behind the Middies defense, with a long pass. Barbee did the rest to make it 3-1.

Dicken, who was given a red card in last year’s game, wanted to atone this year.

“It’s great (to win),” Dicken said. “This year I wanted to come out to win and wanted the team to win. I put a lot of hard work in the offseason, doing a lot more conditioning. Last year I came out a little slower … I feel great with (the start).”

While the Pioneers offense was clicking, the defense became rock-solid. Along with no goals in the second half, the Pioneers allowed only three shots on goal in the second half. The play of his defenders in front of him was something Delcorral appreciated.

“Our starting back — they did it last year — they’re a brick wall,” Delcorral said. “They’re unstoppable … they let in one goal and that was it.”

Colton Hyde added the goal for the final outcome.

While Delcorral had experience in front of him, his counterpart Thompson didn’t have the same luxury. With only three seniors on the roster, the junior goalie kept the game much closer than it should have been with a couple of spectacular saves — including a diving punchout.

“He’s a rock in the back,” Midview coach James Igneczi said “There’s times where there was no way he should have gotten a hand on the ball and he kept it out of the net.

“Not only he is a solid keeper, but he is also our captain. So, you have your captain backing you up on everything.”

“This year I wanted to come out to win and wanted the team to win. I put a lot of hard work in the offseason, doing a lot more conditioning. Last year I came out a little slower … I feel great with (the start).”

— Elyria’s Isaac Dicken

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Midview’s Garrett Hilty battles Carter Hyde of Elyria for ball possession near midfield during the first half.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Damond Mathis of Midview weaves through the Elyria defense during the first half.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Elyria’s Malik Holt moves the ball past Midview’s Domenic Roman during the first half.

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Midview’s Kiel Wells blocks Elyria’s Joshua Rader from the ball during the first half.