Musketeer boys upset Big Green

Published:  Thursday, October 15, 2009 (5 months ago)
Print

Ottoville’s Sam Beining and Fort Jennings’ Brad Trentman battle for possession of the ball during their teams’ boys soccer battle on the pitch of Ottoville Soccer Stadium. The visitors pulled the upset 1-0.By TRENTON GAUSE
The Delphos Herald
trentjen.gause@ymail.com

OTTOVILLE — The Fort Jennings Musketeers traveled to Ottoville Soccer Complex to face the Big Green in boys varsity Putnam County League soccer Tuesday night.
It was a hard-fought defensive match that only produced six shots-on-goal for each team.
It only took one to decide this one as Fort Jennings downed the Big Green 1-0.
This match started out with both teams knocking the ball back and forth. Neither team would allow the other too deep into scoring range.
Ft. Jennings, who was passing the ball brilliantly the whole game, were finally able to break through with their first shot-on-goal from about 15 yards out six minutes into the game. That shot was handled easily by Ottoville goalie Kyle Kroeger (5 saves), who then cleared things out.
That woke up the Musketeer offense, who were slowly shortening the field for Ottoville.
At the 31:54 mark, Ft. Jennings junior Ryan Schuerman came down the right side of the field, not having anyone to pass to. He came across toward the left and as he crossed the middle, turned and fired from 18 yards out up and over Kroeger’s head to put the Musketeers up 1-0 on just their second shot of the game.
Jennings continued to pressure the Ottoville defense for the rest of the half.
On the Musketeers’ third shot, which was set up off a Big Green penalty, Kroeger made a beautiful diving save to keep the Musketeers from increasing their lead.
Winning the battle at midfield helped the Musketeer defense keep Ottoville at two shots-on-goal for the half. Ft. Jennings kept the pressure on with excellent passing and field communication but solid play from Ottoville’s defense only allowed four shots in the half and the Musketeers were forced to be content with taking a 1-0 lead into the half.
Ottoville came out in the second half determined to move the ball.
Through the first 18 minutes of the second half, the Big Green was able to keep the ball in scoring position but the Jennings defense stayed as stiff as the cold air surrounding them and didn’t allow a shot-on-goal until 15:42 left in the match.
The Musketeers tried to add to their lead at about the 18-minute mark with the only two shots that Ottoville allowed in the half.
Ottoville started to push downfield one more time and at the 15:42 mark, sophomore Sam Beining got free and fired a laser that got blocked and jumped on by Musketeer goalie Tyler Good (6 saves).
Ottoville had three more chances to score in the half but came up empty. Ft. Jennings cleared things out and the Musketeer front line kept the ball in front for the remainder of the match and sealed the 1-0 victory.
Ft. Jennings coach Bill Romes thought the two teams matched up well: “They kept putting pressure on us and coming back; we just stepped up and tried to shove it right back down their throat. It was a pretty even game, I think.”
The coach also commented on winning the midfield battles.
“We talked about that midfield the last couple of days, us losing our shape and composure in the midfield, and we really worked on that the last couple of days and it looks like it really paid off,” he added. “I was happy with the play of my defense as well. Our defense has been stepping up and they stepped up even more tonight.”
Ottoville (8-5-1, 1-3-1 PCL) will travel to Lima Temple Christian for a 5 p.m. Thursday matchup.
Ft. Jennings (5-11, 2-3 PCL) battles Miller City next Monday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Kalida Division III sectional.