sports@putnamsentinel.com

OTTAWA — Nerves may have gotten the best of the Miller City boys soccer team during the first half of their Division III sectional semifinal versus Lincolnview Tuesday evening at Kalida.
That changed in the second half once the Wildcats were able to get a goal. Once that happened, the Wildcats played a little looser and added to their lead as they defeated the Lancers 3-0.
The win advances Miller City (10-7) to the sectional finals Thursday evening against top-seeded Archbold (16-0) at 5 p.m. Kalida and Ottoville play in the second game.
Neither team was able to dent the back of the net the first half, although the Wildcats had some good scoring chances.
Early in the second half, the Wildcats’ Jared Snyder had a close range shot on-goal that Lancer goalie Mark Evans was able to grab.
Minutes later, Miller City got on the scoreboard after a foul called on a Lancer player just outside of the box. On an indirect kick, Snyder touched the ball and Ross Kaufman blasted a shot past Evans for a 1-0 Miller City lead with 31:33 left in the contest.
That was the goal the Wildcats needed to help them relax and play their game.