Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007

Elder Back In Regional Finals

Panthers knock off top-ranked Mason in OT

By Bret Sims

Elder is headed back to the regional finals for the second straight year after upsetting previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Mason 2-1 in overtime in a boys’ Division I regional semifinal soccer match last night.

The winning goal was scored four minutes into overtime by Alex Meyer, who got his foot on a low free kick from fellow teammate Chris Corbett.

"I saw the ball sliding towards me, and I just poked it in," Meyer said as fans, coaches and players celebrated the hard fought victory.

The Panthers (17-4), ranked No. 2 in the local coaches' poll, advanced to the title game last season before falling to Fairfield and will bring a seven-game winning streak into the regional title game against Beavercreek on Saturday.

Mason (17-1-2) was ranked No. 1 in the local coaches’ poll and third in the state and suffered their first loss of the season.

After a scoreless first half, Elder came out in the second half with hustle and determination as they quickly attacked the Mason goal.  In less than three minutes Miles Lacey scored the first goal of the game off a rebound shot by Anthony Meyer to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Elder seemed to take control of the game as they got to every loose ball, made the extra pass and out-muscled the Comets

The Comets rallied during regulation to tie the score 1-1 with 15:07 left in the second half.  Caleb Eastman was driving on goal inside the 18-yard line when Elder goalie David Hurley came out of the box and collided with Eastman.  The ball kicked out to Ivan Otero who tied the game 1-1 with a swift kick of his right foot.

Both teams battled hard in a scoreless first half highlighted by outstanding defensive plays.

In the tenth minute of the first half Elder just missed taking a 1-0 lead off a corner kick by Drew Gramke.  Gramke placed a nice ball in front of the goal to teammate Steve Schaefer, who would have scored on a header had it not been for a great save by Mason defender Zach Patterson.

Elder’s Chris Doran returned the favor in the thirty-fifth minute when Mason’s Seth Petrey blasted a low liner towards the corner of the net that would have hit pay dirt had Doran not been there to clear it.

Seth Petrey almost scored another goal when he blasted a free kick off the crossbar from about 20 yards out.  Goalkeeper David Hurley never moved and had the ball been two inches lower Mason would have led 1-0.

"There's not much you can say to console the guys after that," said Mason head coach Paul Reedy.  "I told them I was proud to be their coach."