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Coldwater goal keeper Sydney Grieshop slides to save the ball kicked by Celina's Allana Carroll during Saturday's soccer match at the soccer stadium in Celina. The Bulldogs and Cavaliers played to a 1-1 tie.
CELINA - Fans from Celina and Coldwater got their money's worth as the two Mercer County girls soccer teams battled it out at the soccer stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams got an early goal, then proceeded with a defensive display for the final 67 minutes as the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
The tie snaps Celina's four-match win streak in the series with Coldwater. The Cavaliers entered the game 1-12-1 all-time against the Bulldogs, with the win coming in 2019 and a 3-3 tie occurring in 2017.
"We were definitely happy," said Coldwater coach Paul Dingledine, whose squad moves to 10-4-1 on the season. "Would we have liked to have won? Yes, but it wasn't a loss and we played hard."
The scoring came within a 50-second span just over 11 minutes into the match. Grace Huwer got a pass into Mia Byer, who worked around the goal box and put it past Alaina Vehorn at the 28:46 mark to give the Cavaliers the 1-0 lead.
Celina's Natalie Zizelman (3) and Coldwater's Madelyn Lange battle for possession of the ball.
Celina's answer came quickly as Natalie Zizelman sprinted down the side and found Bria Pearson inside the box for the equalizer at the 27:56 mark to level the contest.
"I thought we came out a little flat. There was a lot of emotions going on with it being Senior Day and the (the Homecoming dance) following the game," said Celina coach David Hammons. "To Coldwater's credit, they came out and gave it to us right away. I thought their energy was high from the start and it took us a little while to match that."
The remainder of the contest was both teams playing exceptional defense. After the goal, Celina kept Coldwater from getting any decent chances at a go-ahead goal, not allowing another shot on goal.
Celina, on the other hand, tried to increase its offensive on the Cavaliers. The Bulldogs took five shots on goal in the second half, with Cavalier keeper Sydney Grieshop making saves on all five. Grieshop saved one goal when she tipped the ball just over the top-bar of the goal post.
The Bulldogs looked to have broken the tie with just under nine minutes to play when Paiton Rhodes kicked a shot in a traffic jam near the goal and into the back of the net, but the officials had blown the whistle right before the kick after a Celina player made contact with Grieshop as she held the ball after a shot. Grieshop also nearly had a ball slip out and roll past the line, but made the save.
Celina's Jacci Felver (13) and Coldwater's Amanda Clune battle for control of the ball.
"We've been a second half team for a good portion of the season," said Hammons. "I thought we had opportunities in the second half and a couple balls we wish went our way, but (Grieshop) made a couple of really good saves."
Celina continued to put pressure on the Cavaliers, but Coldwater kicked the ball out of harm's way as the clock wound down to zero.
"We played some games against very good competition this year just like (Celina). The girls are finally learning to play in those tough games," said Dingledine. "In the past, we always lost 2-1, 3-2. This year, we won some of them (close games) and the girls have gained some confidence to compete in those games."
Celina (11-2-3) wrap up their season on Tuesday with a Western Buckeye League trip to Wapakoneta. Coldwater travels to Ottoville on Tuesday and finishes the season on Thursday with a Western Ohio Soccer League battle at Delphos St. John's.
