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Coldwater goalkeeper Sydney Grieshop (33) drops to make the save on the shot by Celina's Allana Carroll during Saturday's girls soccer match at Cavalier Stadium.
COLDWATER - Saturday's Mercer County girls soccer matchup between Celina and Coldwater proved to be an exciting 80 minutes of action as both teams played hard to keep the other off the board.
The visiting Bulldogs were able to get a goal with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half to take the lead, then added insurance with four minutes remaining in the match to take the 2-0 victory over the Cavaliers at Cavalier Stadium. The win extends Celina's streak to four straight in the series.
"We knew going in it was going to be back-and-forth," said Celina coach Eric Gerker, whose squad improves to 10-5-1 with the win. "Coldwater is having a good season (7-6-2 after the loss) and weren't going to back down from us. There's a bit of rivalry between the girls."
Both teams played solid mark-up defense to limit good looks at the goals. Celina had just one shot in the first 35 minutes with Coldwater getting a shot as well. The pendulum finally tilted towards the Bulldogs as the clock went under the five minute mark with Bria Pearson was able to get free and put the ball past Cavalier keeper Sydney Grieshop with 4:37 remaining in the half. Coldwater had a chance to level the match, but Avery Knapke's kick with just under 2 1/2 minutes to play just went over the top bar and landed on top of the goal allowed the half to end with Celina up 1-0.
Celina's Alex Kimmel (23) tries to get the ball away from Coldwater's Avery Knapke.
"We were man-marking Ellie (Hitchcock) and Allana (Carroll) because we knew their speed," said Coldwater coach Paul Dingledine. "For the most part we did a good job. Had a breakdown (on the first-half goal)."
The second half was a carbon copy of the first as both teams played strong defense. Celina had a chance to add a goal with 22 minutes remaining, but Ellie Hitchcock's high shot was saved by Grieshop. Coldwater had a corner kick midway through the match, but could not convert.
The second Celina goal came via a set play when Jada Highley got the ball inside to Rachel Rammel, who put into the back of the net with 4:11 to play to end the scoring.
Celina's Rachel Rammel (17) tries to keep the ball away from Coldwater's Madelyn Lange.
"Second half, same situation (as the first). They scored with four minutes to go," said Dingledine. "We battled them for 72 minutes, but if you want to give yourself a chance, you have to keep them from scoring."
Grieshop made four saves on the day for Coldwater while Isabelle Maxwell needed just one save to earn the clean sheet.
"That's been a focus the last three games," said Gerker of the defense. "We've given up some goals and we went back to the drawing board defensively and showed the girls where we had some opportunities."
Celina wraps up the regular season on Tuesday with a Western Buckeye League match at home with Wapakoneta. Coldwater has a pair of home games against two teams playing in the same Division III district. Ottoville comes to Coldwater on Tuesday while Delphos St. John's makes the trip on Thursday for a Western Ohio Soccer League matchup.
