Thursday, November 10th, 2016
Bulldogs end season with loss in semis
Division II Boys Soccer State Semifinals
By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Celina's Austin Haines uses his head to hit the ball away from Revere's Matthew Giltner.
TIFFIN - For 80 minutes, the Celina boys soccer team gave their all.
A late first half goal by Richfield Revere and a follow-up with 20 1/2 minutes left in the match proved to be too much to overcome in a 2-0 loss to the Minutemen in the Division II state semifinals on Wednesday night at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin.
The Minutemen (16-3-3) advance to play Kettering Alter on Sunday at noon at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus. The Knights beat Columbus DeSales 2-1 in double overtime in the other semifinal in London.
Celina ends its record-breaking season at 20-2, snapping a 20-match win streak.
"For 80 minutes, the guys never gave up," Celina coach Ryan Jenkins said. "Second half we really pressured. Just couldn't muster anything to get a goal. Proud of the guys. Even when we got down one goal (and then) two goals, they never quit."
Both teams put on a strong defensive performance that kept each other away from the goal areas as much as possible. Revere outshot Celina 4-3.
"Game was played in the middle of the field," Jenkins said. "We just weren't able to muster enough offense. Just a good game, what you would expect in a state semifinal."
Celina had the first shot at a goal at the 27:50 mark. Brennen Piper was fouled and received a direct kick 25 yards from the top of the goal. The kick hit the crossbar and went into the hands of Minutemen keeper Charlie Fink.
Revere finally struck with 13:08 left in the opening half. Zane VonFossen booted a corner kick into the goal area, where Joel Harding got a perfect shot past Aden Gariety to put the Minutemen into the lead.
In the second half, Celina turned up the pressure to try and get the equalizer. Five minutes into the half, Jarren Casto fired off a kick from 30 yards out that just went over the goal.
Revere tallied its second goal of the night with 20:23 left in the match when Sam Webster was able to break free inside the box and score past Gariety to make it 2-0.
Celina's last best chance to avoid being shut out for the first time of the season came with 12:40 left when Casto had a chance inside the box with Fink out of position, but a Revere defender kicked the shot out of harm's way.
"We had some chances. Just weren't able to put them in tonight," Jenkins said. "Even until the end, I still felt like we were pressing. Just couldn't break through for one. If we did (get a goal), maybe we could get it going. Their defense played well."
Play was physical for the match, with Celina players booked for two yellow cards and Revere for one in the final 7 1/2 minutes of the match.
For Jenkins, who along with assistant coaches Matt Leugers and Kyle White played for Celina during their high school days, and the players, including the 13 seniors, the season will be a memorable one.
"You lose that first game (the season opener with Findlay), you don't know how to react," Jenkins said. "Putting together 20 wins (in a row) is a good reaction. First time we've been shut out. To have it in the state semis, that's not a bad season.
"For the kids, it's awesome. It's a great feeling for myself, but I loved to see how these kids grew from freshmen all the way to seniors. They wanted to get here and (they) got here. Would have been nice to get one more."
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Celina's Jarren Casto watches as the ball heads toward the Revere net. The Bulldogs lost to the Minutemen 2-0 in the Division II boys soccer state semifinal at Tiffin.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Celina's Conner Mills has a Revere player on his back during play at Wednesday's state semifinal in Tiffin.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Celina's Brennen Piper keeps the ball away from a Revere player.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Celina goalkeeper Aden Gariety cradles the ball after making a save.
