Double take: Tigers repeat as SCOL champions
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The game was physical. The score was close, and the McClain Tigers are South Central Ohio League boys soccer champions for the second straight year.
In similar fashion from a year ago, the Tigers clinched the outright SCOL title at McClain Field with a 3-2 win over the London Red Raiders.
In fact, in 2009, the Tigers defeated the Red Raiders 5-0 to clinch the outright SCOL championship, at McClain Field.
Once the physical match was over, the Tigers celebrated on their field in front of their fans, with their second SCOL boys soccer championship in school history.
"We are very, very, very excited. This game was nerve-wracking, and we had to play hard until the very end," McClain coach Shawn Jackson said. "London played tough, but we were all heart and we weren't going to give up nothing."
This was also a game of redemption for Sam Henry. In the first half, he bounced a penalty kick attempt off the left post of the goal in the first half.
In the second half, he was right on target, twice.
The first of his two penalty kick conversions came with 17:02 left, with the ball landing on the left side of the goal. On that same sequence to force the kick, the Red Raiders were given a yellow card for arguing with the official.
The PK by Henry put the Tigers up 2-1, but London's Kevin Schwartz tied the game at 2-2 with the ball landing into the left corner of the goal with 6:48 remaining, past a diving Ryan Case, who was stretched out in mid-air.
But it was Henry to the rescue for the second time via the penalty kick.
After a call that tripped up Daniel White forced a PK attempt, Henry, this time, nailed the ball to the right side above the keeper for a McClain, 3-2 lead with 6:23 left on the clock.
The goal was Henry's 22nd goal of the season, tied for the team-high with White, who reached the feat earlier in the game.
The Red Raiders had another opportunity to tie the game with just four minutes before the clock hit all zeroes, but the free kick attempt missed high above the goal.
But the second half is when the Tigers had a fire lit under them, and the initial spark came from White.
Seven minutes and 18 seconds into the second half, White beat the keeper, one-on-one, blasting the ball into the left corner of the goal. The assist was credited to Luis Rivas.
Rivas was a part of the most controversial moment of the game, when the ball he kicked may or may have not gone through a hole in the corner of the goal, through the goal. The officials huddled and said it was a no goal.
"We recovered after that one," Jackson said. "We just have a great group, but we are not done yet. We have to keep working hard."
The Tiger defense played a big role Monday with Shane Hall and Case forcing London to miss their shots.
"Ryan was excellent at goal," Jackson said.
Each team had many chances to score goals, but each time the ball went in every direction but straight into the goal. Or the ball bounced off the pole of the goal or the keeper himself.
London's first goal was scored by Derrick Davis (27:05) in the second half, as the score was tied at 0-0 at halftime. Davis' goal tied the game at one.
The win puts MHS at 9-0-2 in the SCOL and 11-2-2 overall.
MHS faces Miami Trace Tuesday at McClain Field, with the opportunity to go undefeated in the SCOL with a win.
After the game with MT to wrap up the regular season, the postseason for the Tigers will start on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at home, against the No. 8 seeded Logan Elm Braves. MHS earned a No. 1 seed, with the game starting at 6 p.m.
SCORE BY HALF
LHS 0 2 — 2
MHS 0 3 — 3
[[In-content Ad]]