On Tuesday, October 13, Academy faced off at Bexley for the seniors’ last chance to take down the Lions. The game started hot with an intense offensive shift for the Vikings, but Bexley held its ground. Both teams battled for possession as the strength of the rivalry hung over the field. Senior Lila P. denied the Lions shots on goal,  extending a defensive shutout to five straight games. Near the end of the first half, captain Katie N. connected with Sophia S. for a goal. Coming out of half, the team knew it would have to emphasize possession to maintain control. Josie M. soon found the net, leaving the score 2-0 as the clock wound down. Despite the big rivalry win, the Vikes had to stay focused to find success over the weekend.

Looking to extend their win streak, Academy met Indian Hill at home. The dangerous opponent threatened the Vikings win streak as the Braves are also competing for a league title. The match started with fire as Indian Hill immediately found momentum, scoring in the first 3 minutes. But Academy got its spark back when forward Sydney J. broke through the Braves defense for an astounding goal. The teams entered halftime at 1-1. Senior Kendall O., prepping for the second half, said, “We knew there would be a lot of pressure on our defense, but that we’d have to rely on each other to keep them out.” The Vikes came out hot with both momentum and control. This combination perfectly set up Sophia for the opening goal. With Academy running down the clock, the Braves refused to surrender. With just a few minutes left, Indian Hill scored on a fast break down the middle. As the game advanced into overtime, both teams knew this game would be crucial for the playoff seeding. After establishing an offensive pace and controlling possession, senior Ashley H. found Katie for the final goal, sealing the game 3-2.

On October 20, Academy faces Granville at home for the final game of the regular season. The Vikes now sit comfortably at 14-2-1 on an 8-game win streak.