By Eric Frantz For The Dayton Daily News

BEAVERCREEK | Throughout the first half of the high school girls soccer season it's become evident that Beavercreek is the team to beat in the Dayton-area. Thursday, Northmont failed in its bid to do so.

Falling behind 2-0 after one half, the Thunderbolts dropped a 3-1 decision to the host Beavers at Frank Zink Field.

Creek, which entered the game ranked first in the Miami Valley Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association and fifth in the D-I state poll, improved to 8-0. Northmont, sixth in the MVSSCA, evened its record at 3-3-2.

"It took us some time to get going and obviously when you're playing a team like Beavercreek it's hard to fight back from two goals down," Northmont coach Walt Slade said. "They're a good team and you can't give them opportunities."

Added Creek coach Steve Popp: "You'd much rather play a game in the lead than from behind."

The Beavers have played much of the season in front.

Outscoring the opposition 39-2, Creek got on the board at the 25:16 mark of the first half when Megan Moran punched in an assist from Kelly Blumenschein. Nine minutes later Kristin Arnold scored.

In the second half Arnold netted another unassisted goal with 25:19 left. Over the final 10 minutes Northmont peppered the Creek goal and finally scored when Jeannie Borda kicked in a rebound. The goal ended Creek keeper Sangeet Rattan's bid for her seventh shutout.

On the night the T-Bolts outshot Creek 15-14 and held an edge in corner kicks (7-5). But it was the Beavers who found the back of the net.

"When we were up 2-0 we felt good but by no means was that a sufficient lead against Northmont," Popp said. "In the second half they were controlling the ball a lot and defensively we were in a situation where we weren't as organized as we like to be. When we did go forward and attack with the ball though we did a good job."

Creek hits the road for its next two games — Piqua and Fairmont — before returning home Sept. 28 for a game with Xenia. Northmont hosts Wayne on Monday.

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