Ottoville is heading to state after a win against Mansfield Christian during Sunday’s Division V regional final at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
TIFFIN — Ottoville squared off with Mansfield Christian on Sunday afternoon with a Division V State semifinal berth on the line.
The last time these two teams met, Ottoville came away with a 1-0 victory in 2022, and this time turned out to be no different thanks to a second-half goal from Ashton Miller, giving the Big Green another 1-0 victory.
After their repeat performance against the Flames, Ottoville (18-3-1) has earned the right to take on Summit Country Day (12-4-5) on Wednesday night at Wapakoneta High School in the State semifinals.
“I feel like we really controlled the game for the most part,” Ottoville head coach Dustin Markward said. “We really didn’t give up a whole lot of shots. We just couldn’t find a way to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Ottoville had plenty of scoring chances in the first half but was unable to dent the back of the net in the first 40 minutes.
Garrett Trentman had the first opportunity 10 minutes into the match and Nick Brandeberry followed up with another chance four seconds later, but Mansfield Christian keeper Grady Heichel turned away those attempts.
Ottoville flooded the 16 halfway into the match with a flurry of shots on goal, including one that banked off the inside part of the right post and bounced back toward the middle of the penalty area, keeping the contest scoreless.
Mansfield Christian ended the first half without any shots on goal.
Ottoville reasserted its ball control around the nine-minute mark of the second half and at the 16:54 mark, that relentlessness finally paid off.
Landen Saxton delivered a cross pass from the left side to Ashton Miller, who delivered a header into the net for the lone score of the game.
“You have to be there at the right time and our seniors executed that play really well,” Markward said. “We moved the ball really well and found a way to put it in. Defensively we also did really well and that’s good for our whole team. There wasn’t really any one guy that stood out. Credit to our whole team.”
Mansfield Christian had no answer as Ottoville’s defense didn’t allow a shot to reach keeper Carson Hilvers.
“I don’t think we played our best game today but we hope that we can do that in the next roound,” Markward said. “When you get to this stage, you’re going to run into really good teams. We are going to have to be at our best.”
Shawnee pulls out 4-2 victory over Lake Catholic
HURON — For the third time in the last five seasons, Shawnee is heading back to State.
And in order to make that happen, the Indians had to survive an action-packed first half, which included five of the game’s six goals, to garner a 4-2 victory over Lake Catholic on Mucci Field at Huron Memorial Stadium on Sunday.
Tate Bender, Luca Fusillo and Adam Jmiai found the back of the net in the first 38 minutes, the first of which was netted by Bender off a set piece just seven minutes in.
Brandon Rangel hit the equalizer for Lake Catholic at the 24th minute, but Luca Fusillo regained the advantage at the 31st minute for the Indians, who never trailed in the victory.
Jmiai made it 3-1 with just over two minutes left in the half, and with 20 seconds to go, Owen Pesek netted a late goal to make it 3-2 at the break.
Fusillo provided Shawnee with some insurance at the 64th minute with his second goal of the afternoon which effectively put the game out of reach. Drew Neidemire and Caleb Miller were credited with assists in the victory.
Shawnee fired just four shots on goal, while Lake Catholic got off 12 shots on goal. Neidemire saved 10 of those shots.
On Wednesday night, Shawnee (19-1-1) will take on Indian Hill (18-0-2) at Ohio Health Field at Harding Stadium in Marion.
The Indians previously reached the State tournament in 2022 when they won the D-II State title over Bexley, and in 2020.
