By Cort Reynolds

ADA – The Ada High School boys soccer team lost 8-1 to visiting Liberty-Benton in a key North Central Ohio Soccer Association match at War Memorial Stadium on Thursday evening, September 18.

The Bulldog season record fell to 6-3-1 overall and 1-2 in the NCOSA standings after the defeat.  

The Eagles improved to 8-1-1 overall and 3-0 in NCOSA play following the decisive victory.

“Liberty-Benton has a lot of quality players on the field, they are good,” said second-year Ada head coach Aaron Acheson. “Our effort was there.“

L-B jumped ahead 5-0 and never was headed. Eagle senior Aiden Hatch tallied four goals. Junior Jairo Colina netted three goals and dished out two assists. 

Ada junior Carson Conley scored with 12:52 left in the first half on an assist by classmate Andrew Allen to cut the deficit to 5-1.

“That was a bright spot for us in the game,” Acheson said of the lone Bulldog goal. “Andrew played a great through ball, and Carson put it away.”

But Hatch answered by rolling a left side shot into the right corner of the net with just one second left in the half to restore the lead to five at intermission, 6-1.

Liberty tacked on two more goals in the second half. Eagle sophomore Tayden Troyer added a goal and one assist. Senior Brody Thomas passed out two assists.

“Liberty-Benton is a really good team, and their speed of play was the difference,” Acheson noted. “I was proud of our guys for battling and creating chances.

“We will learn from this and be better moving forward,” he added.

Bulldog keeper Jacob Rush made 11 saves in goal. 

L-B keeper Kooper Leatherman stopped four of the five Bulldog shots on goal. The Eagles directed 19 shots on goal.