Sidney goalie Bailey McCutchins dives for a goal shot during a Miami Valley League game against Vandalia-Butler on Wednesday at Memorial Field.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
VANDALIA — In a battle of unbeaten Miami Valley League records, the Sidney Yellow Jackets fell 2-1 to the Vandalia-Butler Aviators on Wednesday at Memorial Field.
“Clearly they were out-battling us for balls,” Yellow Jackets head coach Kevin Veroneau said. “We have players that don’t want to battle for every ball. That kept putting more pressure on our backs when the mids or forwards aren’t trying to win a ball.”
Sidney (9-4-1, 6-1-0) entered the game undefeated in MVL play and tied with the Aviators and Tippecanoe in overall standings.
The Yellow Jackets and Butler were unable to find the back of the net in the first half, but it wasn’t in any part due to lack of attempts on the Butler side. Yellow Jackets goalkeeper Bailey McCutchins did a great job of preventing Aviators’ goals before she suffered an ankle injury that hindered her late in the game.
Sidney allowed the first goal of the game with 24:58 to play in the second half.
“We were defending a lot more in the first half because we were laying off and giving them time and space,” Veroneau said. “You don’t give a team that’s as highly technical and fast time and space.
“In the second half we talked about everyone as a team high pressuring, stepping up, playing more counter attacks and starting to put them under pressure.”
McCutchins kept up the stellar defense when she saved a penalty kick to keep the Butler lead to 1-0 with just over 12 minutes to play.
The Yellow Jackets were able to break through and score with just seven minutes to play when sophomore Tessa Curl snuck the ball past the Aviators’ goalkeeper.
It looked as if Sidney may have been able to sneak out with a tie, but Butler struck again with 2:22 left to play with another shot to the back of the net.
The Yellow Jackets were unable to make anything work on offense in the remaining minutes and lost their unblemished MVL record.
“Some players were committing to the strategy and some of them weren’t,” Veroneau said. “So we saw inconsistency in play where clearly, they were all committed to a style of play. You could see it all across the field.
“That team beat us because we didn’t play like a team. We played on and off like individuals, it’s an issue we’ve been dealing with for years.”
Sidney takes five days off before its next contest when it travels to Beavercreek on Monday before coming home for two games to finish out the regular season, including a game against Tipp next Wednesday.
Reach assistant editor and sports writer Ryan Harless at 937-538-4651 or follow @Ryanharless_ on X (formerly Twitter).
