At this juncture, it could be argued the Mayfield girls side isn’t really “defying” anything — expectations, odds, personnel turnover or a grueling schedule. That is, except for one facet: The Wildcats are defying any noise that may be out there about all those challenges — while making plenty of noise all their own. Olivia Williams bagged a brace, including a match-clinching strike off smart service from Grace Barth, and Mayfield’s defensive-third play was impeccable in the second 40 to see through a 3-1 win Oct. 5 at West Geauga. In a battle of firmly embedded top-four sides in The News-Herald girls soccer Top of the Crop, the Wildcats (8-4-3) strengthened their footing on the No. 1 perch with a laudable result against a formidable up-and-coming young side in the No. 4 Wolverines (10-4-1). The spine of this result for Mayfield was brilliant work in the back that did not concede a shot on target after halftime, with shifting and space and quality limitation that rightfully made Wildcats coach Ivica Miljak beam. “That’s it. That’s the whole game plan,” Miljak said. “We know they have some dangerous forwards up top, specifically No. 20, Addy Cook, and they’ve got some pace, too, on the wings. So our game plan was just to keep it nice and compact defensively, limit their space. And it worked out for us.” Mayfield took a 2-1 lead out of the opening 40. Standout junior striker Adison Cook opened her side’s account in the 20th minute with an impressive touch and turn for a bender, her 17th goal of the fall, for a 1-0 lead for West G (10-4-1). The Wildcats grabbed their equalizer in the 29th. Williams did well with body control and settling a touch around the edge of the six to get positioning 1v1 on her defender and slot a right-footed strike to make it a 1-1 match. Mayfield equalizer through Olivia Williams 29th min1-1 match pic.twitter.com/g5pyGb6Duf — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 5, 2024 Then in the 39th, a handball was called on West G in the box, giving Mayfield a penalty kick. As she so patiently did with four seconds left to give her side a signature 2-1 win at Mentor on Sept. 7, Addison Carroll stepped to the spot and put home the PK to give the Wildcats the lead to stay. Mayfield 2-1Addison Carroll PK 39th min pic.twitter.com/PPETgRzH4c — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 5, 2024 The second 40 was a textbook example of keeping shape in the defensive third by the Wildcats led by center back Kylie DeForde, limiting time and space for Cook and, by extension, the rest of the Wolverines’ side. Mayfield junior center back Kylie DeForde discusses her side's 3-1 win at West Geauga to get to 8-4-3As noted in my match story, which I'll share shortly, the defensive-third work in the 2nd 40 was outstanding – & she played a key role in that quality pic.twitter.com/V7ac4j4H2e — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 6, 2024 Mayfield’s Sofia Leffler nearly got a third on a wide run in the 51st off Kennedy Setlock service, but was turned away by West G goalkeeper Michaela Platt. The Wildcats did eventually find their third. That came in the 78th, after a Williams run was sprung by a gorgeous ball from Barth, taking a little off the service pace to afford Williams freedom to latch onto the touch. Williams took care of a right-footed finish from there for the brace and her side-high seventh goal of 2024. “Honestly, I saw that there was a lot of space,” Barth said. “I just knew that I could take it forward, that defender would come for me and I’d just play it right through.” Count Barth, who did her part in midfield to complement it, among those impressed by her side’s work in the back. “We were paying attention to (Cook),” Barth said. “So I feel like we really had our eye on her and make sure she didn’t have a lot of space so we could get the ball out easily. Kind of just staying close to her and making sure she can’t play the ball over. And also, getting back as mids, helping the defenders, making sure everything is set back there.” The Wildcats are on a 7-2-1 stretch since Aug. 29, including wins over West G, Westlake, Mentor and Madison. Perhaps there was an argument that it was a pleasant surprise in August, when so much was new after graduation hit this side. Not anymore. “We’ve got a young team. We’ve got a lot of inexperience,” Miljak said. “We’ve been up and down a little bit. We had a really tough stretch of games in the middle. We had HB, Kenston and Twinsburg back-to-back-to-back. Since then, we’ve responded with four wins in a row, and this is the only goal we’ve allowed in those four games. “So I think things are starting to come together. It’s just coming game by game with some of our new faces.”