Tigers' Soccer Faring Well Against Challenging Schedule

Last year, the Twinsburg soccer team allowed just 13 goals in 17 matches, an amazing statistic that set a school record.

You know what they say about records – they are made to be broken.

This season, the Tigers have been even more outstanding on the defensive end, allowing a mere four goals in nine matches. Twinsburg has been impressive in the first half of the 2011 season with a record of 6-1-2 against .

The biggest win of the season thus far is the 1-0 victory over state-ranked Chagrin Falls. The Tigers knocked Chagrin from the unbeaten ranks, shutting out the state's third-ranked team in Division II. Senior captain Tyler Nellis netted the game-winning goal with an assist from another senior co-captain, Sean Woods. Junior goalkeeper Frank Candau had his usual standout game, aided as always by the Tiger defenders.

Twinsburg also played crosstown rival Solon to a scoreless draw and earned head coach Mike Lally his 100th career victory in a 3-0 blanking of Brush. The lone loss of the season was a 2-0 setback to Mentor.

"We basically see all the quality teams in this area and we've had some good results," said Lally. "Chagrin Falls is one of the best Division II teams in the state and Solon beat St. Edward, another state-ranked team. We gifted Mentor two easy goals but our defense is playing very well."

Twinsburg, ranked seventh in the Greater Cleveland area, is getting leadership from seniors Nellis, Woods, Steve Lawrence and Joe Onder. But the core of the team is made up of sophomores and juniors.

"We always preach defense and we have a quality keeper in Frank Candau," said Lally. "We're a small Division I school so we have to make sure we are well-organized. The boys have played very well the first half of the season."

The second half will be even more challenging. The Tigers have a huge NOC match against Strongsville Tuesday and then play St. Ignatius, last year's national champion, on Thursday. Both of those matches will be at home.

"There is a lot of competitiveness and a lot of parity in Division I soccer in Northeast Ohio," said Lally. "It's just great that we get to play a team like St. Ignatius. It's a huge opportunity and it's fun for our kids to have a crack at a team like that."

Twinsburg maybe one of the smallest Division I teams in the area, but the Tigers have no shortage of talent.

"We're fortunate that we have a great travel club here and a lot of our kids play premier soccer in the off-season," said Lally.

And Twinsburg also has one of the smartest teams around. Last season, the Tigers earned All-American Academic honors with a team grade point average of 3.63.

With the way Twinsburg is playing defense, it will take a genius to figure out how to score against the Tigers.