The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
State runs serve purpose for Hornets
The cycle seems to work similarly — not to mention nicely — at Kirtland.
In 2015, Maya Zovko watched intently as the Hornets embarked on a Division III state final four charge — their first in girls soccer in school history. She later noted how seeing that made her even more eager to contribute when it was her turn in the side.
“I remember sitting there for (a 2015 D-III district final) against Hawken, sitting in the stands, up against the fence, and watching those penalty kicks saying, ‘Wow, I wish I was out there,’ ” Zovko said in 2016 when she was a freshman. “This is my dream next year, and this is what I’m going to be striving for. Even as a freshman, this is where I want to be next year, even if it’s a young team. But seeing that really just showed me that it’s possible, and it looks like a great time.”
In 2017, Erika Zschuppe watched as Kirtland made a DIII state final run, looking forward to her own time on the pitch in high school.
“As a freshman, it’s great to have a team and just to see all these great plays happen,” Zschuppe said. “It’s really amazing, coming in as a freshman, knowing I was going to have this opportunity.”
And in 2018, those fans of the recent past are now a striker tandem on which to build for the duration — perhaps inspiring some Hornets of the future along the way, too.
What should be an attacking duo to watch this fall was on full display as Kirtland topped visiting Hawken, 4-1, on Aug. 23.
On the Hornets’ opening goal, Zschuppe was seemingly surrounded on the edge of her offensive third with three Hawks in tow. But with a smart side touch to the middle of the field, the freshman created space to make her attacking run more of a straight, open lane.
“(Those touches) throw off the defenders, and they don’t know what’s happening,” Zschuppe said.
In unison, Zovko began a run of her own wide left and was ready when Zschuppe, seeing Zovko as a better option, fed her on the ground across the box for a strike and a 1-0 lead.
Following the match, Zovko, coming off a 21goal
campaign as a sophomore, expressed confidence that unselfishness is a glimpse of what’s ahead this fall.
“It takes a relationship and a bond on the field to be able to do that,” Zovko said. “You’re in high school — who doesn’t want a goal? But with us, it’s not like that. We’re going to be doing this all season long, and you can’t stop that.”
The same logic applied to the free kick to make it 2-0, as Zschuppe connected for a left-footed screamer from distance just under the crossbar after a Lidia Rodin stepover.
“We love her for what she does for this team,” Kirtland coach Ed Bradac said of Zschuppe. “She plays within herself. The first goal, it’s a beautiful assist. So she’s not just scoring goals. She’s a threat every time the ball ends up at her feet. When you pair her with Maya, that is a nice 1-2 punch for us.
“It’s the quickness she has. She’s quick left or right. And the speed at which she gets a shot off is probably one of the best things we have.”
Perhaps the best thing on which this Kirtland side can rely is the future is in good hands. Numbers don’t get much better in DIII, as Bradac has 37 varsity and JV players this fall, and much of his starting 11 against Hawken were underclassmen.
The Hornets, constantly tested with the nonconference slate Bradac lines up in addition to CVC Chagrin play, are 3-0 as September looms, including a nice result against Rocky River.
The pieces are lining up well — especially the ones who were fans of the side not that long ago.
“We have girls that can play all around the field,” Zovko said. “It messes up the other team — you know it changes things up. That will definitely be an advantage in the future.”