Cavs fall to Wildcats

OTTOVILLE - It took Kalida less than 3 minutes to score against Coldwater.

The Cavaliers spent the next 77 minutes doing everything possible to get the equalizer, but Kalida keeper Bailey White came up with big saves to preserve the Wildcats' 1-0 win in the Division III girls soccer district semifinal at Ottoville High School on Tuesday night.

Kalida (12-6-0) returns to Ottoville on Saturday at 5 p.m. to face Spencerville in the district final. The Bearcats defeated LCC 3-0 in the first semifinal of the night.

The lone goal, scored by Madison Langhals with 37:04 remaining in the first half, caught the Cavaliers by surprise.

"I don't think they were ready for that," said Cavaliers coach Lisa Brackman. "Sometimes it happens."

The goal was the only shot the Wildcats had on goal during the match as Coldwater kept Kalida from threatening the rest of the evening.

Coldwater (11-6-1) put pressure on the Kalida defense immediately after the goal. White, who was battling injury, came up with five saves as Colwater took eight shots on goal. Several big shots hit the top of the net, just missing going in for the tying goal.

"They fought hard and gave it their best shot," said Brackman. "(White) is very good. We did everything to get it past her, but it wasn't our night."

The Kalida defense stiffened as the clock neared the final zeros, although several times White had to rush the ball when a Coldwater attacker came close to reaching the loose ball.

The Cavaliers end their season at 11-6-1, matching the 2017 regional-qualifying team for most wins in the season as seniors Emma Ayers, Molly Post, Haley Schneider and Emmy Boley played their last match.

"I'm proud of them," said Brackman. "We broke the school record. We beat Celina for the first time this year. We did some amazing things. Tournament didn't turn out the way we wanted, but I'm proud of this group of girls. It was a good season for us."