Continental High Boys Soccer team closed the regular season by losing 3 of 4 but that did not stop them from beating Fort Jennings in a Sectional Semifinal to bring on Ottoville in the Sectional Finals. Ottoville on the other hand had a long winning streak at the end of the regular season on their way to claiming the Putnam County League Crown. Ottoville had dispatched Spencerville in their Sectional Semifinal match. That set the page for the #4 seed Pirates playing at #3 seed Ottoville to see who would advance to the OHSAA Division III Ottawa-Glandorf District Semifinal.
In their previous meeting Ottoville had prevailed 2-1 which meant fans should be in store for a close game in which either team could score. The weather had a prevailing wind from the North and West so one would look for the scoring to take place at the South goal.
The Pirates attacked the South goal first and with the wind at their back controlled the action. Although the Pirates had numerous shots none of them connected and it was 0-0 at half.
The second half looked to be going the Big Green way as they started attacking with the wind at their back. At the 36 minute mark the Pirates got the ball deep into the Big Green end where it was cleared out of bounds just inside the end line on the West side. Pirate Cole Bowers took the throw in and threw it over the mass of humanity in front of the goal to the East side where Pirate Jarret Keck one touched the ball between the Big Green defenders to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead with 35:35 left in the game.
Defense was the name of the game from then on out as the Pirates mustered a few attempts at the Big Green goal and kept the Big Green attack at bay. Continental 1, Ottoville 0 – final score.
Continental had 5 shots on goal to the Big Green 1. Pirate goalie Trevor Brecht had 1 save in the shutout win.
Continental advances to the Kalida District Semifinal on Wednesday October 24 at 5:00 pm against #1 seed Bluffton. Bluffton is the Northwest Conference Champs and has an 11-2-4 record. Bluffton advanced to the Kalida District by defeating #11 seed Lincolnview 5-0. #2 seed Kalida will play #8 seed New Knoxville in the other Kalida District Semifinal.
Ottoville finishes the season with a 10-3-3 record. The Big Green were ranked #9 in the OSSCA Division III Northwest Ohio final poll.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
