BELLVILLE — The calendar said mid-August, but it felt more like late-October.
Sophomore sensation Taylor Huff scored a goal and assisted on another and Madison held on for a physical 2-1 win over Clear Fork at the Colt Corral.
The match featured three yellow cards and more than a few hard fouls.
“We were ahead 2-0 at the half and I told our girls that is the worst score in soccer,” Madison coach Zac Huff said. “Clear Fork is never out of a game. They are a very good team and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them again in the (Division II) district tournament.”
Taylor Huff, the head coach’s daughter who verbally committed to Tennessee over the summer, scored on a nifty left-footed goal with 23:06 left in the opening half. About 13 minutes later, Huff hooked up with fellow sophomore Kari Eckenwiler for a 2-0 lead with 13:15 left in the first half.
“Taylor is going to draw a lot of attention from opponents, but we’ve got some other talented girls,” Huff said. “Taylor is going to get double- and triple-teamed, but that opens things up for Kari and Chesney Davis and Kalie Blaising.
Clear Fork had a goal waived off on an offsides call with about 16 minutes remaining in the match. The call lit a fire under the Colts, who spent much of night on the attacking third.
“We took a defender away, pressed numbers forward and changed our formation,” Clear Fork coach Brittany Bechtel said. “We were in need of a goal.”
That goal finally came on a direct kick from senior forward Kaylin Helinski with 10:14 remaining. The Colts had a handful of scoring opportunities late, but Madison keeper Paige Eldridge was equal to the task.
“They were a different team for that final 15 minutes or so,” Huff said. “With Helinski out there, they are never far from getting back into the match.”
Clear Fork lost to Madison 4-2 in last year’s season opener. Taylor Huff scored all four goal for the Rams last year.
“Even though we didn’t finish the way we wanted to, I’m so proud of the girls,” Bechtel said. “Their possession was phenomenal.”
