Villa Wins Metro Title over Rival MICDS With 'Non' Goal, Goal

The game between Villa Duchesne and MICDS played in rarified air had more than a classic finish. The teams played through more than 78 scoreless minutes before Villa broke through for the only goal in a 1-0 win over the host Rams.

It was that close a game.

And the game winner technically was scored by a Rams’ defender.

Here’s what happened. Senior forward Hanna Benben inbounded her third corner kick of the second half. She played a perfect high arcing shot square on the door step of top notch goalkeeper Campbell Torchin. A mass of players came together at the net, the ball went in off a defender and the Metro championship ended up on Spoede Road at Villa Duchesne. In the vernacular, soccer officials call it a “non” goal. Technically speaking, the goal went to No. 11 Benben.

Tim Twellman Villa’s coach described the solo goal in 80 minutes of regulation play. “Hanna threw that ball right into the middle of a lot of bodies. It went off a defender. We’ll take it,” said a weary but happy coach.

The two teams rematch next Monday at 5:45 p.m. at Westminster Christian Academy in the first round of district play.

Villa is 12-3-2; MICDS is 15-7-0. Villa’s perfect 5-0 Metro conference record makes them the undisputed champs. They can hang another banner in the gym.

“These teams were equally matched. We really didn’t want to play on the artificial turf. We aren’t so great on turf.”

A rainy day moved the game from grass to turf.

Kaitleya Frost, senior forward explained how the Saints found the back of the net. “We kept up the level of play right until the end of the game.” Did she feel a little sorry for the MICDS goalkeeper. “Maybe a little, but we’re really happy we won.”

Both teams had a few chances to break through. Andrea Hermann played an exceptional goal in the nets for Villa. The 5-foot keeper kept on shouting encouragement to her teammates, all the way down the field.

Megan Hillermann, a nifty midfielder dialed up the pressure, pushing the ball into the MICDS end several times, especially in the second half.

Michael Black told his Rams team to keep their heads up. “We will walk off this field with our heads held high. I feel good about how the whole team played."

There were at least six different players on the field who could have ended the game with a blast past a keeper. “Defense took over. That neutralized a lot of the scoring chances,” reasoned Black.

“Forwards on both sides of the ball played exceedingly well,” said Black. Every time the ball came down to our end of the field, I was worried,” said the coach.

Stay tuned for the rematch this coming Monday.