WILMINGTON — Sam Spirk scored two first half goals and SCOL league-leading Wilmington held on for a 3-1 win over the visitors from Miami Trace Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Wilmington improves to 3-1-0 overall and 3-0-0 in SCOL play.

Junior defender, Matt Fender, scored the goal for Miami Trace.

Junior Brett Lewis played a corner kick into the goal box where Senior Blake Pittser headed the ball past the keeper to Fender who headed the ball into the net at the back post.

Miami Trace is 2-2-0 overall, 0-2-0 in the SCOL.

“We’ve opened with our two toughest league games,” Miami Trace head coach Josh Thoroman said. “They didn’t go the way we would’ve liked but the scores have been close. We’ve played both Wilmington and Chillicothe on the road and on their turf fields, which has given each of those teams a huge advantage in those games.”

Miami Trace senior goalkeeper, Tim Kinzler, came up huge for the Panthers with 15 saves, including a save on a penalty kick from Sam Spirk. Last season Spirk led southern Ohio with 84 offensive points (2 points per goal, 1 point per assist).

Junior Preston Huff had two non-goalie saves and junior Matt Fender had one non-goalie save.

Miami Trace is at McClain Thursday and will play at Clinton-Massie Thursday, Sept. 8.

The Panthers’ next home match is Tuesday, Sept. 13 against Washington.