TIFFIN, Ohio — The Ottawa Hills boys soccer team defeated Ottoville 1-0 in the Division III regional finals Saturday afternoon at Tiffin Columbian High School.
The Green Bears (14-2-3), ranked No. 4 in the final Ohio Scholastic Coaches Association coaches poll, got what proved to be the game-winning goal from Elijah Shetterly at 19:09 in the first half, and it proved to be the deciding factor as they advance to the Final Four.
“We pride ourselves on our defense. I mean, clean sheets during the tournament so far,” Ottawa Hills coach Brian Hanudel said. “... So kudos to them for keeping us off the board as long as they did, but it really starts in the back with our seniors with Will Berschback back there and Truman [Talbott] in goal. So they really, really anchor us and having Adam Ayad right in front of him (helps).”
Ottawa Hills will face Crestview in the state semifinals on Wednesday. Crestview, ranked No. 6 in the OSCA final coaches poll, advanced to the Final Four with a 4-1 defeat over Kirtland in its regional final. The time and location for the state semifinals is to be determined.
It’s the 11th time this season Ottawa Hills has shut out its opponent. They have outscored opponents 65-10 over 20 contests, including a 24-0 advantage in tournament action alone.
“We stick together. This is a team, we're all brothers, and we played our coach’s system,” Shetterly said. “We competed really hard out there today, we played our game and we won.”
Ottawa Hills captured its third straight district title and defeated Bluffton in the regional semifinals. It is the sixth Final Four appearance for the Green Bears since 2008, when Ottawa Hills won the state title.
“Our defenders are all incredible, Liam Silk, Harley Tzlbott, Chase Lorenzen. And I mean they're all very solid,” Shetterly said. “They don't mess around with the back and we've been playing very well.”
Ottawa Hills controlled much of the first half, where the Green Bears’ stingy defense limited the Big Green to two shots, zero on goal. Ottawa Hills recorded 10 shots, five on goal, through the first 40 minutes.
“If we have the ball, they can't really get a shot off. So we like to play that possession based,” Haundel said. “And once we're back in our final third, we really like to climb down and recognize those runs when they're going to happen. They've done a great job of it.”
OH goalkeeper Truman Talbott had two saves in the first half.
Goalkeeper Alex Suever recorded 13 saves for Ottoville (13-3-5). The Big Green were held to five shots, two on goal, with Talbott making three saves. Ottawa Hills took 22 shots, 12 of which were on goal.
“It's really exciting. We enjoy every single moment of it, but job’s not finished,” Shetterly said. “We know what we want and we're going to do whatever it takes to get it.”
First Published November 6, 2021, 11:41 p.m.
