Finish best regular season and 2nd in NCOSA

By Cort Reynolds

MILLER CITY – The visiting Ada High School girls soccer team almost handed unbeaten Miller City their first defeat but ended up tied 2-2 in their North Central Ohio Soccer Association finale battle on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The Bulldog girls led 2-0 at halftime, but MC rallied to score two goals in the final 17 minutes to avoid their first defeat. 

Ada ran its record to 12-2-3 to finish their best regular season ever. They ended up 2-1-2 in the rugged NCOSA, good for a second-place tie with Riverdale.

MC won the bunched-up six-team league with a 3-0-2 record, followed by Riverdale and Ada in second. Upper Sandusky and Van Buren tied at 2-2-1.

Ada junior Rose Baxter and sophomore Aubry Jordan netted the Bulldog goals. Senior Kenley Poling dished out one assist. Junior keeper Emily Gibson made 14 saves in goal.  

MC got off 17 shots to 14 by Ada. 

Wildcats Andrea Brickner and Vivian Otto scored late for MC. Leeann Hunt passed out an assist.

“I couldn't be more proud of the effort,” said Ada head coach Doug Dewese. “Miller City is a strong opponent, having only tied Van Buren and winning everything else; they were favorites to win NCOSA and make a deep tournament run.  

“We had the advantage until the very end but credit to Miller City for that late burst to draw even,” he continued. “I said it against Woodmore, little mistakes cost big against good teams, and we played pretty stout except for a few missteps that cost us.  

“Emily Gibson was knock-out brilliant in the goal,” he enthused. “She looked phenomenal at our last couple practices, and I knew her talent level. She finally got a good test today to show off those skill sets. I also was very happy with freshman Emersyn Lee, who came in on our back line due to some injuries and played like a three- or four-year player.  

“I think this is a huge springboard for us into tournaments, and it sends a message to our future opponents of what we are capable of,” he summed up. “A win would have given us a share of the NCOSA title with Miller City so the tie has a little bit of a sting to it, but the tie leaves us in second place (with Riverdale I believe), which is another high-water mark for the program that this team has set.”  

The Bulldogs will host Kalida (3-8-5) in the sectional finals Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. 

The winner advances to take on the survivor between third seed Columbus Grove (10-3-2) and fifth seed Continental (10-4-3) in the district semifinals at Bluffton Monday, Oct. 26 at Bluffton.

Undefeated Miller City is the top seed in the strong seven-team bracket. MC will play the victor between Bluffton (7-8-2) and Allen East (2-11-4) on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. on the Pirate home pitch of Steinmetz Field.

“Super excited to see what we do in tournaments,” Dewese noted.