ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Liberty Center Wins NWOAL Girls Soccer Title On Late Goal





Andi Peterson (4) attempts a shot in the first half of Archbold’s league battle with Liberty Center. The Tigers scored late in the game for a 1-0 victory and their first-ever NWOAL title.– photo by Mario Gomez

Andi Peterson (4) attempts a shot in the first half of Archbold’s league battle with Liberty Center. The Tigers scored late in the game for a 1-0 victory and their first-ever NWOAL title.– photo by Mario Gomez

Archbold’s goal of repeating as Northwest Ohio Athletic League girls soccer champion was lost with just over a minute to play against Liberty Center, Tuesday, Oct. 2.

The Tigers (11-0-1, 6- 0 NWOAL) claimed the school’s first-ever NWOAL championship with a 1-0 win.

“It was a great soccer game,” said Jen Kidder, AHS assistant coach.

“We played and we were right with them the whole time, and it was one unfortunate shot.

“Our girls played awesome tonight and played a great game. They (LC) just played a little bit greater.”

In non-league action, Archbold (9-1-4, 4-1 NWOAL) defeated Napoleon (4-9-1) 3-0.

LCHS 1, AHS 0

When the Tigers invaded Spengler Field, LC took control early. The Tigers attacked the Blue Streak defense and narrowly missing a pair of shots that traveled over the cross bar.

Meanwhile, AHS was having trouble getting its offense on track and had to rely on the defense to keep the game scoreless in the first half.

The Streaks get revved up in the huddle before the start of their NWOAL game with Liberty Center.– photo by Mario Gomez

The Streaks get revved up in the huddle before the start of their NWOAL game with Liberty Center.– photo by Mario Gomez

“I feel like they (LC) definitely controlled the game in the first half,” said Kidder. “Maybe the last ten minutes we got back to our game and played the way that we know how.”

The Streaks showed some life in the second half and turned the tables on the Tigers with a more aggressive offensive attack.

“We got back to working in triangles; possessing the ball, small passes and making the runs, and that was working for us,” said Kidder.

Still, neither team could crack the scoring column until late in the contest.

After a long clearing by the LC defense, Samantha Engler dribbled down the left sideline and took a shot that zipped past Blue Streak keeper Reagan Kohler for a 1-0 lead with 1:22 remaining.

Time was too short for the Streaks to score the equalizer and the Tigers escaped with the win and the NWOAL title.

Now that a league title is no longer possible, the Streaks change their focus to the end of the year and the upcoming postseason.

“Our focus would be two games left and finish strong, but then it’s definitely focusing on districts,” said Kidder.

“I would imagine that we would have a great chance at meeting them for a district championship this year.”

AHS 3, Napoleon 0

Andi Peterson gave the Streaks an early 1-0 lead at Napoleon, Monday, Oct. 1, with a goal 9:41 into the contest.

Dakota Stamm added a goal less than five minutes later for a 2-0 advantage to end the scoring in the first half.

With 31:25 to play in the game, Stamm put the game away with her second goal of the night for the 3-0 final.

Chloe Nofziger, Regan Ramirez and Lily Krieger had assists.


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