Blustery night but Hawks dont blow lead in advancing to Regional final
By Dave Mast
November 3, 2012
541
On a cold, rainy Halloween night at Zanesville High school in the Div. III boys Regional soccer tournament game between two quality teams, it was a third intruder that may have played the biggest role in the game.
A stiff breeze in the Hiland versus Coshocton showdown proved to be very beneficial for the Hawks in the first half and the Redskins in the second, with all five goals coming at the east end of the stadium.
But it was one goal in particular that was a huge backbreaker in Hilands 3-2 victory.
As Coshocton played offense in the closing moments of the first half, trailing 2-0, Brennan Coil, Hilands enormous sophomore defender gained possession, and with about seven seconds left uncorked a monstrous, driving kick down field. With the wind behind it, the ball carried high and far, and speedy forward Grant Stutzman chased it down.
Realizing time was of the essence, Stutzman gathered in the ball on the run, and with Coshocton keeper Marc Smith coming out, Stutzman unleashed a right footer that soared past Smith and found the net with one second to play in the half.
Momentum was Hilands best buddy heading into the half. They would need every bit of help available to stave off a torrid comeback bid in the second.
I was really proud of my goalie, because I was a little upset with him, and he really pumped the kids up and kept a strong will at the half, said Coshocton coach Brian Dunlap. He came out and really played a great second half.
One goal, the eventually deciding goal, scored with one second to play.
That was the difference between going into the locker room down two or three.
And perhaps the biggest factor: The wind.
I think so, said Hiland coach Scott Bodiker of the wind aiding the big goal. We had three the first half, they had two the second. All five goals were scored with the wind. And they didnt have a whole lot of chances to score in the first half, and we didnt have many chances in the second half.
We chose the wind the first half, and that put a little pressure on us, knowing we had to get that lead the first half. Thats the problem taking the wind in the first half. If you do and dont capitalize...
Hiland did capitalize, but the Redskins lent a hand, scoring an own goal at the 25:08 mark off a corner by Trey Riggle. The Hawks then got a 2-0 lead when Alec Masts corner found the foot of Caleb Miller who smoked it home.
Then came the buzzer beater by Stutzman, and it looked grand for Hiland.
But anyone who has seen the Redskins play this year knew it was far from over. Plus there was that dreaded wind, which would now be in Coshoctons favor.
While shots were few for the Hawks in the second half, Hiland did have one golden opportunity, coming out of the break just two minutes in.
Hunter Herrera found Stutzman streaking down the left side, and Stutzman drove toward the center of the field, drawing in the Redskins defense. He then sent a perfect pass to Riggle in front of the goal, for an easy touch shot into an open mouth, but Riggles shot popped just over the top of the net.
If we go up 4-0, I dont think we are talking about a one goal game, said Bodiker.
Then Coshocton scored at the 27:15 mark when freshman Alex McPeak found Colton Jordan in the box, and Jordan hit a perfect header up and over Hiland keeper Tyler Hochstetler.
We knew they werent going to fold, said Bodiker of Coshocton. We gave up that first goal a little early in the half, and their crowd really got into it, and their kids started playing harder. We got a little bit of that Oh no look in our eyes even though we still had a two goal lead.
The game took on the feel of a heavyweight boxing match in which two big-time foes are going toe-to-toe. Only the Hawks were the fighter who had thrown tons of punches in the first eight rounds, and was now simply trying to hang on and last the fight.
Things got a lot hairier for Hiland when Coil hit a goal kick right to Coshoctons Conner Roahig in the center of the field, and Roahig raced unimpeded to the net, where he slid one past Hochstetler.
Now 3-2 with 11:16 to play, the Hawks were staggering, and the Redskins were looking for a knockout punch.
Only Hiland found some reserve strength, buckled down, and with seven minutes to play Bodiker sent extra defender Josiah Koser into the gamer to shadow Jordan, Coshoctons biggest threat.
The best opportunity came when Coshocton got a great look, hit a nearly prefect shot, but Hochstetler made an unbelievable stop by punching the ball up over the top of the net.
You could see them panicking a bit when the first goal went in, said Dunlap. It was game on. I thought we kept the pressure on, and if we had another two or three minutes we may have had another chance or two.
Stutzman had a chance to close out the game twice in the last four minutes, but one shot was just wide and Smith made a nice diving stop on the other to keep the Redskins alive.
In the end, Hiland had enough strength left to advance, and at this point, that is all that matters.
Its easy to look at the end of the game and realize you were hanging on for dear life, and be disappointed with that, said Bodiker. But we told the kids, no long faces when we walk out of here. We get a shot at Worthington (Christian), which is what we have been after all year.
But all credit to Coshocton. They are scrappy, they are fighters, and they are a young team that will be back.
The Hawks (14-4-1) now get their dream match-up with Worthington Christian. Bodiker noted that the Hawks felt as though they were robbed in last years Regional tilt with the eventual State champions which went into overtime.
Coshocton (12-5-3) leaves knowing it gave everything it had to come back, only to fall just short in a game that will linger for a while, undoubtedly.
Both teams, who battled to a 0-0 tie early this season, came into the contest with identical nine game winning streaks. The now 10 game streak for the Hawks is a school record.
