Wildcat boys claim PCL soccer title

Published:  Monday, October 6, 2008 (1 month, 4 weeks ago)
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By MICHAEL WRASMAN
The Delphos Herald

KALIDA — The Kalida Wildcats annexed the Putnam County League boys soccer championship by whitewashing the Big Green of Ottoville 1-0 on a wet Kalida High School soccer field Friday evening.
It was senior night for the hosts.
“Winning the PCL was something that was a goal for us,” a relieved Kalida coach Mark Czubik noted. “It wasn’t easy, especially when you play teams like Ottoville and Miller City.”
The contest had a tournament atmosphere to it, as the stands were packed. Both student bodies were into the match.
There was a question as to whether the scoreclock would work; it wouldn’t until about 3 minutes were left before the varsity game started.
It was definitely a defensive battle in the rain, as players from both squads were slipping and sliding on the wet surface. Ottoville had just 17 shots-on-goal during the contest, while Kalida totaled 22 attempts.
“The rain was not an advantage or a disadvantage,” Ottoville coach Eric Gerker noted. “The rain was not a factor.”
The lone goal of the tilt came at the 39:25 mark of the second half when senior Justin Kahle goaled in heavy traffic in the center of the goalkeeper’s box.
Kalida had another chance at the 28:24 mark of the second when senior Doug McIntyre got loose on a breakaway; Big Green goalkeeper Garrett Rayman (9 saves) got the save.
Senior Ryan Kleman missed on a penalty kick, with Rayman getting the save at the 20:46 mark.
Kleman was stuffed again by Rayman, this time on a boot from midfield at the 15:12 point.
Ottoville’s best chance in the second half was when senior forward/midfielder Derek Miller booted a long center shot with 10:20 remaining; Kalida junior goaltender Michael Bockrath (4 saves) got the save.
“We missed some opportunties in the first half and in the second half,” Gerker stated. “They played well.”
Kahle shot a backward kick with 6:20 left in the contest but Rayman prevented the goal with another save.
McIntyre took a long shot at the 4:20 mark; however, Rayman saved that as well.
Ottoville’s last shot came at the 3:48 mark when senior defender Adam Wannemacher missed a cross-field shot.
Kalida’s midfielders and defenders really kept the Big Green offense (8 second-half shots) off balance, much to the dismay of the Ottoville partisans. Kalida totaled 15 second-half shots; most of the second half was played on the Big Green end of the field.
“Since our only loss of the season (a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Shawnee Indians the third game of the campaign), the strength of our team has been our defense,” Czubik noted. “It helps that we have four seniors on defense.”
The first half was a defense-lovers’ paradise as the two squads battled in the rain to a scoreless tie. The arbiters let the players play on; not too many fouls were called.
Sophomore Kristopher Osterhage was stuffed by Rayman with 37:52 left in the first.
Kahle attempted a penalty boot with 26:05 left in the first but Rayman was up to the challenge.
Senior defender/midfielder Kyle Martin was turned away at the 21:52 point by Bockrath.
Senior forward Andrew Koch missed on a corner kick at the 14:55 mark but Bockrath was there for the save.
With 10:10 left before halftime, McIntyre was turned away by Rayman.
Kleman missed on a corner kick at the 6:50 mark and senior Scott Schnipke also missed on a corner kick with 4:55 left in the first.
Ottoville had a chance at the 3:59 mark but Miller misfired.
“It was tough but so is every tough loss,” Gerker observed. “You point out the positives and go with it.”
The Big Green falls to 9-2-2 (2-1-1 in the PCL) and makes the short journey Monday to play archival Fort Jennings in a PCL matchup at 5 p.m.
“It was too close for comfort,” Czubik concluded. “It was hard-fought.”
Kalida improves to 13-1-0 (5-0 in the PCL) and hosts Bluffton for a non-conference battle 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Wildcats also won the junior varsity encounter 2-1 to improve to 10-1-1.

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