By Greg Billing for the Dayton Daily News

TIPP CITY | A fractured seventh vertebrae will keep Matt Campbell off the soccer field this season. But it won't slow down the Beavercreek senior from his responsibilities as a team leader.

"It's tough," said Campbell after watching Beavercreek beat Tippecanoe 1-0 on Saturday. "I'm a captain and I'm going to be supporting our team and doing whatever I can off the field. Keep working hard and encouraging our guys."

During a preseason alumni game, Campbell landed on his neck after making a bicycle kick. He got up and walked off the field thinking a stiff neck was the extent of his injury. But a trip to urgent care later that night turned up the fracture. Campbell now wears a halo device to stabilize his neck and back for the next three to four months.

While the Beavers improved to 2-0 on Saturday, a team that graduated nine of 11 starters could use Campbell's leadership on the field. Beavers' coach John Guiliano said Carson Hill, Alex Marolo and Matt Wagner will be counted on to fill the void up front. Hill, a first-year varsity player, netted the Beavers' winning goal on a crossing shot off Seth Johnson's pass with 9:45 left in the game.

"It's amazing, it feels good," Hill said of his first career varsity goal. "Seth passed it back, and I just took the shot."

The shot that snuck inside the far post was the only blemish on an otherwise quality effort by Tipp keeper George Lesher. He made three nice stops in the first half, including an outstretched dive to his right to block a rocket. Keeper counterpart Jake Lagrone turned in a strong second half to preserve Beavercreek's second straight shutout.

Campbell, meanwhile, should be ready for his club season with the Ohio Galaxies by the end of the year.

"It's going to make me stronger as a person dealing with this," said Campbell, who isn't able to ride the bus but still plans to attend every Beavercreek game. "I look at it as there's nothing I can do about it now. I need to have a good attitude and do what I can for the team."

'Wiz' reaches 200

Alter boys coach Bob 'Wiz' Ellis notched his 200th varsity win with a 2-1 victory over Valley View on Tuesday.

"That's what everyone is joking about with me, it's one win toward 300," Ellis said. "Am I going to make 300? I don't know. I'm 60 years old, and I'm still having fun."

Ellis (201-67-44) is focusing on reaching 25 seasons of coaching. He's in his 22nd season now as both a varsity and assistant. Ellis and his wife Katie are both staples at Alter athletics. Bob announces basketball and football games, lines the soccer field and drives the bus among his other duties, while Katie helps with the soccer program and handles tickets among others.

Polar Bears ice win

Northridge didn't waste time achieving its first goal this season — a win. The third-year program beat Meadowdale 4-0 on Tuesday. Bennett said the team talked in great detail about getting a win, but overall, the goals are small such as scoring against a team that shut them out last season.

"I think the kids came back this season hungry for a win," said coach Eve Bennett, whose Bears came within 1:29 of that historic win last season but settled for a tie. "If you set small goals, then you have kids gaining confidence every day," Bennett said. "That's what sports is all about — having fun, teamwork and competing."

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