OTTAWA – Ottawa Glandorf celebrated senior night in style on Tuesday evening as they made a bit of history in their 5-0 victory over visiting Defiance with their 30th straight WBL victory.
“It’s always a good night when you get to honor a great senior class” said head coach Michelle Maag. “This group of seniors has had such a positive impact on our program the last four years, they’re a group of hard working girls who always trust and have each others backs both on and off the field. I feel lucky that I get to coach them and am excited to see what we can do as we enter tournament time.”
Seven seniors were honored before the game with two who were unable due to injury to play getting the ceremonial start in Carlie Brinkman, and Kaelyn Grothause. Classmates Makenna Siefker, Maya Heringhaus, Gabby Steffan, Megan Horstman and Katelyn Reed all received a rousing round of applause from the Titan faithful in attendance after walking the field with their parents.
Only once in Western Buckeye League history has a team been unbeaten in more games than the Titans current 30-game win streak that dates back to 2021. From 2002 to 2006, the Elida Bulldogs dominated the conference and amassed five straight titles to go along with an unbeaten streak of at least 38 consecutive matches (35-0-3).
Elida’s run at the top would ultimately be stopped ironically by Ottawa Glandorf during the 2007 season that saw Celina claim the fourth of their conference record tying seven titles.
With the first nearly 11 minutes of the game having gone by scoreless, the Titans found themselves ahead with 29:14 remaining in the opening half as sophomore Emma Heringhaus blitzed a bouncing ball past Defiance keeper Eliza Ramirez for her fifth goal of the season.
O-G junior midfielder Delaney Duling upped the host blue and gold advantage to 2-0 just nine minutes later for her fifth marker of the year as she dumped in a roller to the back of the net.
Late in the first half the Titans turned to a senior on the night designed to honor the seven eldest players to run their lead to 3-0. Makenna Siefker, the Titans leading scorer helped herself to her first of two scores on the night when she stole a ball from a Defiance defender and buried it top shelf from 20-yards away just before the half.
In the second half Ottawa Glandorf (15-2, 9-0) saw goals from Siefker (25th of the season), and Emma Heringhaus (6th) find the back of the net through the first 17 minutes to take a 5-0 they would never relent.
“I thought Emma has a good game, both in finishing and in creating chances” said Maag. “Megan Horstman had another great performance on the back line as well.”
Defiance (6-9-2, 1-7-1) keeper Eliza Ramirez, a senior herself turned away 12 shots for the Bulldogs. Tournament play kicks off for Defiance next Wednesday as they travel to Wapakoneta to battle the Redskins in a 5pm sectional final at Ryan Field.
Ottawa Glandorf will see nearly two weeks off before their postseason opener when they play host to either Bryan or Kenton at Titan Stadium in the district semifinals at 5pm on October 23rd.
“I’m so proud of the girls for finishing our regular season strong and winning a difficult league in undefeated fashion” said Maag. “We have a longer than usual break between games now, but if we go about it the right away we can add so much to our game in that time. We will be focused on going 1-0 each day in practice as we prepare for the winner of Bryan and Kenton. I am very excited to get to work for tournament time.”
Sophomore keeper Libbie Niese posted one save on the way to her first shutout of the season for O-G.
Scoring:
29:14 – Emma Heringhaus (OG)
20:42 – Delaney Duling (OG)
3:08 – Makenna Siefker (OG)
38:41 – Makenna Siefker (OG)
23:16 – Emma Heringhaus (OG)
Assists:
2 – Delaney Duling (OG)
Saves:
1 – Libbie Niese (OG)
14 – Eliza Ramirez (D)