By the Hamilton Journal News

HAMILTON — Each time the Badin girls soccer team wins a game, the girls take a little grass from the field and put it in a baggie. It’s a tradition that began last year by one of the assistant coaches.

The Rams got to put a few more tufts into their collection following a dominating 2-0 victory over Valley View in a Division II, Dayton 1 district semifinal match Monday night at Hamilton Soccer Stadium.

Badin’s skill and pace helped control the run of play despite a staunch defensive effort by the Lady Spartans and weather better suited to that ‘other’ football.

“(Badin) is a good, quality team and we knew we’d have to hang back (defensively),” said Valley View coach Jeff Stiver.

As a result, the Spartans created very few chances while their own goal was peppered relentlessly throughout the match.

By unofficial count, Valley View had just three shots on goal. Their best chances — two corner kicks — never led to a single shot.

“We do have some skill,” said Rams coach Keith Harring. “We want to keep the ball (as much as possible). If the other team doesn’t have control, then obviously they can’t score.”

Both Badin goals were scored by junior striker Sammi Burton from long range.

Just seven minutes into the contest, she gave the Rams the lead.

Taking possession largely unopposed outside the goalie area, she fired a shot to Spartan ‘keeper Karlee Blosser’s right but had perfect placement into the far corner.

She put it away midway through the second half in similar fashion.

This time, her rocket shot scorched left-to-right and sailed into the upper corner.

Valley View’s best chance was in the waning moments of the opening half. Captain Samantha Buehner placed a free kick square on, but goalkeeper Jenny Rosen easily came up with it. Rosen finished with her ninth shutout of the season.

The Spartans (14-4-1) had few opportunities after that.

“We had trouble moving it into the attack,” Stiver said. “I hate to take anything away from our girls, but we just don’t have the depth (Badin) has. I knew we would need a perfect game to beat a top-ranked team in the state with that kind of skill.”

Lindsey Smith, Heather Rains and Ashley Roberto were credited with assists for the Rams, and Janie Jeffcoat, Kristina Anderson and Roberto excelled on defense.

The loss ended a stretch in which the Spartans won two overtime games, both 2-1, in their first two tourney contests.

Badin (13-3-2) will face Kettering Alter, a 4-0 winner over Monroe, in the district championship game on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Hamilton Soccer Stadium.

“The girls are determined to take grass away from every field they play on, for the rest of the season,” said Harring. “Their saying is ‘take it one day at a time’. That’s something they started on their own this summer. Now they have grass from 13 fields.”

With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, a four-legged streaker — of sorts — stopped play.

Somehow a dog found its way onto the playing field and decided to get in on the soccer fun. After a short stop in action, it was assessed a red card and sent away.

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