By Cort Reynolds

ADA – The Ada High School boys soccer team lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to visiting Riverdale in Div. V Northwest sectional final play at War Memorial Stadium on a warm and sunny Saturday, October 18.

Ada finishes its season with a fine 11-5-2 record after the loss. Riverdale improved to 6-13 after the upset victory. 

“It’s a tough way to end what has been a positive season,” said Ada second-year head coach Aaron Acheson.

The Bulldogs had whipped visiting Riverdale 4-1 back on September 10 to help avenge a 2024 district semifinal loss to the Falcons. But Riverdale somehow managed to turn the tables at tournament time.

“We started strong, with Carson Conley opening the scoring off a great assist from Chase Jarrett,” said Acheson.

Bulldog junior Carson Conley received a stolen pass, took a few dribbles and chipped in the first goal off the fingertips and over the head of lunging keeper Reydon Bishop to put the Bulldogs ahead 1-0 with 22:19 left in the first half.

Ada just missed a chance to add on 24 seconds later when a shot went just wide right from 20 yards out.

Energetic junior Wyatt Fisher let rip a 40-yard blast shot that Bishop saved moments later.

Ada junior keeper Jacob Rush made a diving save at the 14:35 mark to deny a Cameron Snook free kick from 25 yards out.

Sophomore ace Snook then drilled a 20-yard free kick into the back of the net from just outside the top of the 18-yard box at the 8:31 mark. “Snook equalized with a direct free kick,” Acheson noted.

Fisher launched another ball from 40 yards out that Ada junior Andrew Allen headed barely wide right with 7:30 left in the half.

With five minutes to go, Allen’s indirect free kick shot inside the box was saved by sophomore keeper Bishop. 

Falcon senior Nathan Alge was bumped inside the box to draw a penalty kick at the 4:06 juncture. Snook took the PK and buried it in the net to give Riverdale a 2-1 lead.

“The penalty came from a controversial call against Jacob Henson, our left back, who went shoulder-to-shoulder with Riverdale’s right wing (Alge),” Acheson explained.

Allen’s shot at the 3:48 mark went wide left across the goalmouth.

The game went to intermission with the upstart Falcons on top, 2-1. 

Offense was hard to muster in the tight second half.

Allen had a chance to tie it on a penalty kick with 14:42 remaining, but his shot was blocked and saved by a diving Bishop.

“We had a golden opportunity to equalize in the second half when we were awarded a penalty for a handball,” said Acheson. “Andrew struck the ball well, but their keeper guessed correctly and made a full-stretch diving save.”

Jarrett assisted the Conley goal, his 10th score of the season.

Ada outshot Riverdale, putting 16 shots on goal compared to seven by the Falcons.  

Rush made three saves in goal for Ada. Bishop was credited with 15 stops.

“Today also marked the final game for our four seniors: Evan Miller, Jacob Henson, Joshua Thaxton and Jude Griffin,” said Acheson. “We wish them nothing but the best as they move forward.”

Riverdale advances to the Elida district semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. against Ft. Jennings (9-5-4). The Musketeers eliminated Spencerville (1-13-2) by a 7-0 count Saturday.

The Falcon nine-team portion of the district finals will be held at Defiance on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.

Continental (15-1-2) and Kalida (10-3-4) are among the other powers still lurking in the deep district. The Pirates defeated a solid 12-5-1 Archbold squad 4-1 in a sectional final Saturday, while Kalida beat winless Pettisville.

Ottoville (12-2-3) was seeded first in the big district out of the tough Putnam County League. The Big Green got a first-round bye and shut out visiting New Knoxville 5-0 in their sectional final Saturday.

Miller City (10-3-4) of the PCL is one of the other top teams in the Northwest Div. V district. They hosted tough Van Buren (8-5-3) on Saturday.