Hawks heat up in second half to claim Sectional title
It didn't take long for the Hawks to get the scoring going. Only six minutes into the game, Grant Stutzman delivered a cross shot to Cameron Stutzman, who pounded it into the back of the net to put the Hawks up 1-0. That would be the only time Hiland would score in the first half, as they couldn't find a way to get the ball back in the goal.
"We started out well," said Hiland coach Scott Bodiker. "But scoring early on might have actually been the worst thing for us. We started to get flat and didn't do some of the things we wanted to."
Despite the lack of scoring, Hiland's defense held Steubenville in check and they took a 1-0 lead into the half.
In the second half Coach Bodiker decided to make a few changes in his formation to put some life back into the offense, and the Hawks responded. With 28:39 left to play, Grant Stutzman scored the second goal of the game for Hiland.
"Brennan (Coil) threw it in," Stutzman commented. "The defender misjudged it and I just tipped it in."
Less than six minutes later it would be Stutzman doing the scoring once again after junior Hunter Herrera delivered a cross in front of the goal. That would put the Hawks up 3-0, but they weren't done.
Merely a minute and a half would tick off the clock before senior Caleb Miller decided to get in on the scoring action for the Hawks. Herrera would also get his second assist of the half on the play.
"We didn't want to change our formation, but it was something we had to do," said Bodiker. "It made a real difference for us."
With 1:57 left on the game clock, Mikey Sanchez would add one more goal to the score, just for good measure. That would end up being the final score of 5-0.
With the win, Hiland captures the Sectional championship, and moves one step closer to what always seems to be an inevitable match-up between them and Worthington Christian. The last few years Worthington has gotten the better of the Hawks, but the Hawks have a goal to not let the past repeat itself this year.
"I think having that goal out there helps us stay focused," said Bodiker. "We know we have to take care of business to get that chance."