Bulldogs punch tickets to district semis

CELINA - Both Celina soccer teams got exactly what they expected in their Division II sectional final games at the soccer stadium.

The Bulldog boys had an all-out, physical battle against Kenton - a game in which they overcame a one-goal deficit in the second half to win 3-1.

The Celina girls were expected to win convincingly against Defiance and did so by a score of 7-0 in the first game of the doubleheader.

The second-seeded Celina boys earned a date with Grand Lake rival and third-seeded St. Marys in Monday's 7 p.m. district semifinal at Elida Middle School. The winner of that game will face either Elida or Wapakoneta, which plays the first semifinal at 5 p.m., on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. for a berth in the regional.

The third-seeded Bulldog girls face second-seeded Ottawa-Glandorf, last year's Division III state runner-up, in the district semifinals, also in Elida, on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The winner of that will play either Elida or Bath in the final on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m..
BOYS

Last week's regular-season finale between Kenton and Celina at the soccer stadium featured physicality, late-game heroics and a few cards issued.

Similar to last week, a win was not in the cards for the Wildcats.

Garrett Weininger assisted Brennen Piper for the game-winner with 4:17 remaining and senior Matt Rable added a little insurance with a penalty kick goal - his first of the season - 30 seconds later as the Bulldogs scored three times unanswered after trailing 1-0 early in the second half.

"We knew after playing them last week that this was going to be a battle," Celina coach Ryan Jenkins said. "The first half, things weren't quite clicking. In the second half, we were able to put a lot of pressure on them, and we were able to make a few at the end to get the win."

Luis Villa's penalty kick goal with 38 minutes left in the second half put Kenton in front 1-0.

Ten minutes later, Celina's Luke Hone collected a rebound and scored to even the match at 1-apiece. The Bulldogs peppered the goal with shots over the next 20 minutes but each opportunity was denied by the Kenton defense and keeper Will Hoppe, who made a few spectacular diving saves and also had assistance from the post during the stretch.

Finally, Piper's goal gave the big green student section a reason to erupt. Rable made the most out of his chance moments later after a takedown inside the goal box led to a penalty kick.

"We had all kinds of chances there in the second half," Jenkins said. "We were either kicking them wide or hitting the crossbar and their keeper was making some good saves. I thought to get that goal was a relief. It was nice to see us not quit and to keep battling, to not only be content with that one-goal lead, but to get another to finish it out."

Celina keeper Braden Conn finished the night with three saves, unofficially, including a diving, one-handed poke away with 32 minutes left in the first half. Hoppe had six saves in net for Kenton.

The Bulldogs survived Thursday's battle as anticipated. Come Monday, Celina will be in for a war against a Roughrider team whom the Bulldogs knocked from the unbeaten ranks in late September.
GIRLS

Caelyn Reineke and Jenna Berry netted two goals each as the Bulldogs coasted to a 7-0 victory.

Bailey Laux's goal with 25:10 left in the opening half triggered the domino effect for Celina. Kendall Gilmore had a goal and an assist and Holli Brackman added a goal with 32:14 remaining in the game. Heather Heiby and Alyssa Cisco had two assists apiece and Breah Anderson added a helper for the Bulldogs, who outshot Defiance 27-3 for the game.

"I thought that we came out and we did control the game," Celina coach Cal Freeman said. "They kept us out of the goal (early on). Hats off to them for that. We were able to get some more opportunities and we put the ball in the back of the net where it needs to be.

"It was a good win for us. It was a great way for our seniors to finish their last home game with a win. That's a moment they'll always remember."

In Tuesday's district semifinal, the Bulldogs get a little shot at payback against the Titans, who defeated a banged-up Celina squad 2-0 on Sept. 14 in Glandorf.

"It's definitely an opportunity to show what injuries do to a team," Freeman said. "We've got everybody back now, and we've had everybody back for about 10 games. It does truly make a difference.

"Both teams are good teams, so it'll be a challenge for us. We plan on being up for it."