Bulldogs spoil 'Skins' title hopes

CELINA - Wapakoneta needed a win on Monday to claim the Western Buckeye League boys soccer title.

Celina was ready to play the role of spoiler.

The Bulldogs led 2-1 at the half before Wapak scored with 25 minutes left in the match to tie the match. The Celina defense held against a furious Redskins' attack in the final minutes to preserve a 2-2 tie at the soccer stadium.

Celina ends the regular season 12-2-3 and 6-1-2 in the WBL. The tie puts Wapakoneta at 14-1-1 and 7-1-1 in the league and St. Marys (7-0-2 WBL) wins the outright title.

"We knew they were going to give us everything they had," Celina coach Ryan Jenkins said. "It was a good game."

The Redskins came out looking to take the momentum early, getting a Will Hinegardner goal three minutes into the match.

Celina quickly ratcheted up the defense for the rest of the half, limiting Wapakoneta to just four more shots on goal.

The Bulldogs evened the match with 25 1/2 minutes left in the first half when Ryan Hoyng blasted a shot from 30 yards out and put it past Redskins keeper Tristan Meyer.

It took 17 1/2 minutes for Celina to go in front as Payton Smalley knocked in a shot from 35 yards out to make it 2-1 with 7:47 remaining.

"They got one early, and we responded," Jenkins said. "We played well to finish out the first half."

Wapakoneta shut down Celina in the second half, limiting the Bulldogs to one shot on goal.

"We changed our formation and had them on the ropes," Wapakoneta coach Keith Rambin said.

Needing two goals to keep their WBL chances alive, the Redskins found an opening with 25 minutes left in the match as Alex Lause got inside the box and put the shot past Braden Conn to level the match at 2-2.  The final 24:58 was as intense for Celina as any match this season. Wapakoneta put intense pressure on the Celina defense and had several good looks at goal. Conn made one save in the second half as several other shots went high or wide. Celina held tough and kept Wapakoneta from getting the go-ahead goal as the final whistle sounded

"They went for the win," Jenkins said. "It was fun down the stretch. Two good teams battling it out. They sent guys forward and more guys forward, and the defense held. Unfortunately, we couldn't get (a goal) in the second half to (go ahead). Defensively, we played well. Wapak has been scoring a lot of goals. We gave up one each half. Considering what (Wapakoneta) has been putting up, that's not bad."

"It was some pretty good soccer," Rambin said. "I was pleased how we finished. ... I felt we controlled the entire game. Thing was, Celina got a couple of nice shots from distance and made them count. You have to tip your hat to them.

"We just came up one goal short. But 14-1-1 is something to be proud of.

Celina starts Division II sectional play on Thursday, hosting Shawnee at the soccer stadium. The match will start at 5 p.m., should the Celina girls win their sectional opener tonight. Wapakoneta will also play Thursday, hosting Elida at 6 p.m. Elida defeated Van Wert 3-0 on Monday in a sectional semifinal.