jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com

LIMA — With only 13 players on its roster — eight of them freshmen — Spencerville’s boys soccer team (co-ed) knew it was going to have a rough year in 2012.
Lima Central Catholic was going to end it Monday evening under the lights of Lima Stadium, whipping the Bearcats (0-15-0) 8-2 in the Division III Lima District first round.
The Thunderbirds (10-5-2) scored all eight of its goals in the first half.
“We’re just so young; we have to play so many freshmen,” Spencerville first-year coach Josh Hobbs explained. “Plus, we don’t have the numbers right now. The good thing is that I only lose one senior and everyone else is back. We’re expecting to add — hopefully — eight or nine as freshmen next year and in our fifth through eighth grades, we have 40. We had 12 get varsity experience and played in the tournament; we need to look forward from here.”
The first goal came just 23 ticks into it as Sean Daley dribbled up the right side and put in an 8-yarder past Bearcat sophomore keeper Byron Gay (9 saves vs. 18 shots on-goal in the first half).