Archbold’s Addison Moyer, left, and Lily Haselman of Ottawa-Glandorf battle for possession of the ball during Saturday’s district final.
Drew Stambaugh | AIM Media Midwest
Emma Hall of Archbold heads the ball during the district final against Ottawa-Glandorf.
Drew Stambaugh | AIM Media Midwest
Ella Throne of Archbold kicks the ball as the Titans’ Lily Haselman tries to block it.
Drew Stambaugh | AIM Media Midwest
Archbold got just one shot on goal all day long as Ottawa-Glandorf barely let the Streaks across midfield for the majority of the Division III District soccer final. And because of the efforts of senior goalie Reagan Kohler, the Titans couldn’t dent the scoreboard in their first 25 shots at the net.
However after yet another save by Kohler off a corner, Mackenzie Recker got a clear shot on a rebound she made good on with 11:52 left for the only goal of the match in a 1-0 Titan win.
“I think we gave people their money’s worth today,” said Archbold assistant coach Jen Kidder. “It really was a great game to watch and we put on a show.
“Our girls had to make every one of their fans proud today. To hold this team to 1-0 in a district final game after they absolutely killed us (6-0) a month ago, I couldn’t ask for more.”
While the Titans kept the pressure on in the Archbold end of the field, it was Kohler making like Wonder Woman, deflecting bullets at the net over and over again.
O-G’s two best scoring chances of the first half came in the final 15 minutes. Clara Beach had an opportunity from the left side but Kohler dove and surrounded the attempt. At the 12 minute mark, Lily Haselman had a wide open look but Kohler leaped and batted her shot away keeping the scoreboard clean.
Seven minutes into the second half, Titan freshman Makenna Siefker had a wide open try at a one-timer but scuffed the kick and Kohler made the save.
Natalie Rose, who scored both Streak goals in the semifinal win over Ottawa Hills, had the only Archbold shot of the day on a free kick with 23 minutes left from about 25 yards out, but Emma Brinkman was right there for the save.
“What’s there to say, it was an unbelievable show,” Kidder said of Kohler’s performance. “To me she is the best goalkeeper in northwest Ohio. Today she was absolutely amazing, absolutely amazing.”
However a couple minutes after on a corner attempt, Recker got a loose ball at about the 18 yard line, and rifled a shot into the back of the net to break the scoreless tie.
O-G had five more shots, two of which were saved by Kohler in the last 10 minutes, but couldn’t find their way to a good attempt on the Titans net.
“They just never quit,” Kidder expressed about her team. “Everybody on the field did what they needed to do, they did their job. They had so much heart today.”
