Sometimes the biggest plays of the game do not appear in the box score and that was the case on Thursday as Continental remained in the Putnam County League title hunt at Ottoville. The Big Green got credit for the only goal in the first half with 12 minutes left in the half when a corner kick to the near corner of the goal was headed in by a Pirate defender. The Pirates almost tied the game at 1 with 10:13 left in the half but the ball hit the post. Then the play of the game occurred with 2:30 left in the half as the Big Green set up to take another corner kick. This one was placed 10 yards away from the goal and even with the goal post and the Pirate goalie went out to make a play. A loose ball resulted in a Big Green shot into the weak side corner that Pirate Defender Abby Rue came in from nowhere to kick it out of harms way. First half ended 1-0 Big Green.
The Pirates tied the game at one 9 minutes into the second half when the Big Green committed a foul just outside the Penalty box. Mackenzie Shock placed the ball and got off a scoring shot before the Big Green could get into defensive position. The Pirates took a 2-1 lead when a corner kick was not cleared by the Big Green and Abby Rue was able to set up Maeci Dockery for the Pirates goal. Pirates 2-1. The Pirates would add an insurance goal with 16:04 left in the game when Morgan Dockery would convert a shot from the 20 off a Makenzie Shock pass.
Makenzie Shock led the Pirates with 1 goal and 1 assist. Maeci Dockery and Morgan Dockery both scored 1 goal. Abby Rue picked up an assist.
Mackenzie Niese picked up the win in goal for the Pirates with 4 saves. Continental outshot Ottoville 16-11 and had a 11-5 advantage on shots on goal. Ottoville had 5 corner kicks to the Pirates 2.
Continental improves to 10-4-1 (3-0-1 PCL) and will host Kalida in Senior night on Tuesday, a key Putnam County League title game. Kalida leads the PCL with a 3-0 PCL record with Continental and Columbus Grove (1-0-2) left on their schedule. A Pirates win against the Wildcats would make them PCL Champs. Ottoville falls to 5-8 (1-2 PCL).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
The Lady Pirates come back with a huge second half to win 3-1. The Pirate Player of the Game was Abby Rue. Abby had a tremendous bacon save in the first half and an assist on the game winning goal. Great team effort by the Pirates. The girls played for each other and it showed when we needed it the most. –Coach Bidlack
