Birds knock off Swanton

By DREW STAMBAUGH

Expositor Sports Editor

TOLEDO - Swanton goalkeeper Ryan Johnson and the Bulldog defense kept the game tight, but Pettisville eventually prevailed 3-0 in the Division III sectional soccer opener on Thursday at St. John's High School.

Pettisville dominated play for most of the contest, but had trouble finding the net early on. Johnson turned back several potential goals in the first half.

Midway through the half, the Birds had two quick chances. Jacob Rupp fired a shot wide of the net and Gabe Valdez had a point blank shot turned away.

But Rupp would find the net in the closing minutes of the half. He fired a hard shot into the corner of the net with about five minutes remaining in the first for 1-0 lead.

It would be another 20 minutes of game time before Pettisville added to the lead. About 15 minutes into the second half Philip Roth fired a shot that deflected off Johnson's hand, then the post and into the net.

The Bulldogs tried to respond two minutes later. But a Gage Gardner header off a Jerrod Peabody corner was saved by defender Zane Miller.

About three minutes later Valdez would be denied by Johnson again in close. Taylor Short then came close to scoring for the Blackbirds, but his shot when just over the crossbar.

Pettisville did manage to break through and add an insurance goal. Rupp got behind the defense and found the net for a 3-0 advantage.

The Blackbirds moved on to face Ottawa Hills in the sectional final.

The Bulldogs played shorthanded. They were without leading scoring Tyler Estes due to a red card in the previous game and starters Shane Bloom, Jordan Schnabel and Jacob Miller due to injury.