Wauseon's season ends in shootout

Expositor Sports Editor

MILLBURY - After advancing further than any Wauseon soccer team, the Indians historic season came to close on Saturday. They were defeated by Lake 2-1 in a shootout in the Division II district final.

"Overall, the game was extremely hard fought by both sides," Wauseon coach Jerry Bowser said. "It was a shame to have to play it on their home field which is always windy because it is totally exposed and by the airport. The wind Saturday was gale force and cold. It didn't allow us to play with width which is one of our strengths. The girls put forth a huge effort the entire 110 minutes with a no quit attitude that makes me proud."

The blustery conditions made it difficult for either team to get much going offensively. Lake did get a couple chances, but both Drew Plummer and Kayla Encalado missed the net.

Wauseon did not get many good looks. But Janelle Shaw had a scoring chance late in the half, but had her shot forced wide of the goal.

The offense picked up in the second half but it took awhile for either team to find the net. Encalado looked to have a scoring chance early, but she was beaten to a loose ball by Wauseon keeper Megan Fields.

Shaw would have another opportunity midway through the half, but her shot was deflected wide. On the ensuing corner, Lake keeper Ashley Timmons tipped the ball away from the goal.

The Indians were starting to put more pressure on the Lake defense, but it would be the Flyers who got on the board first. Shelby Antonacci found the net for a 1-0 lead.

The goal seemed to rev Wauseon up even more as they kept the pressure on. But as the minutes ticked down, it appeared the game may end 1-0.

"A key moment for us was when lake scored with ,I think, nine minutes left and we did not panic but continued to work the ball and set up what became the tying goal with about two minutes left," Bowser said. "I noticed that they started setting up the awards table after Lake scored so I was glad they had to take it down and wait for the game to be really over."

However, with just over two minutes left, Shaw dribbled to the end line and crossed the ball toward the goal. It deflected off the hands of Timmons and Miranda Mills punched it into the net to knot the score.

Regulation would end tied, sending the game into overtime. The first 15-minute overtime would not be enough to settle the game and neither would the second. A shootout would decide the district champion.

Lake would get the best of the shooutout, scoring on each opportunity to secure the 2-1 win and repeat as district champion.

"A great learning experience for our program," Bowser said. "We are not satisfied though. We want to be playing in the regional. We will have the opportunity to very good again next year and hopefully this experience will help us get to where we want to be which is in the final four."