Wednesday night saw Continental High Boys Soccer at Kalida take on Putnam County League Champ, defending Regional Runner up and OSSCA #1 ranked DIII Ottoville in OHSAA DIII Kalida District Semifinal action. The PCL meeting of these 2 teams was decided when the Pirates gave up a pair of goals in a 2.5 minute span in the first half with the Big Green taking home the 2-1 win. The District semifinal had a similar tune expect this time it took the Big Green 32 seconds to score a pair of goals late in the first half. The Big Green put the first goal on the board with 7:12 gone in the game when they dribbled the ball from the left corner to inside the Penalty and got off a shot from 16 that went around the Pirate defense and goalie to the inside the right corner of the goal. Big Green 1-0. It was looking like that one goal was going to be the first half scoring. With 1:12 left in the half the Big Green took a shot from the far right corner of the field. It was bobbled by the Pirate Goalie and kicked in by the Big Green on the rebound. Big Green 2-0. 34 second later the Big Green made it 3-0 as they had multiple touches in the Pirate Penalty area and managed to put the ball in the air and a Big Green header hit the back of the net for a 3-0 Big Green lead at half.
The second half saw the Pirate offense being more aggressive as they tried to come back to extend their season into a stiff breeze. With 10:11 left in the game the Pirates looked to make it a 2 goal game when Collin Davis had a shot similar to the Big Green’s first goal but it was stopped by the Big Green goalie. The Pirates did get on the board when Senior Blake Weible headed a Senior Jonathon Etter pass into the Big Green goal. Big Green 3-1 final.
Blake Weible scored the Pirate goal while Jonathon Etter picked up an assist.
Pirate goalie duties were shared by Collin Hammond and Jayden Pitney with each picking up a save. Ottoville had 6 shots on goal to the Pirates 5 and a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Continental closes their season with a 10-8-1 record. The Pirates were #3 seed in the Kalida District. #1 seed Ottoville improves to 18-0-1 and took on #2 seed Miller City on Saturday and advanced to the Regional Semifinals where they will meet Liberty Benton on Wednesday at Wapakoneta.
The game marked the final game for the Pirate Seniors Dominque Hammond, Braxton Stegbauer, Caden Mason, Jonathon Etter, Mason Rayle, Carson Etter, Blake Weible, Pablo Cortez, and Peyton Wilson. Good luck in Tournament and in your future endeavors.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
