SANDUSKY – Tuesday night in Sandusky the Lady Titans of Ottawa Glandorf clinched their fourth straight state finals trip with a 2-0 win over Chagrin Falls in the DIV state semifinals.
“This team has shown incredible resilience during this tournament run,” said O-G head coach Michelle Maag. We have earned the right to play in another championship game. I am incredibly proud of this group for making the most of their moment tonight.”
The Titans practiced what their fourth year head coach has preached all season long, defense and set pieces win games.
“Defensively I thought our back line was great,” explained Maag. “Our midfield did a good job of preventing them from getting off shots from distance.”
Despite finding themselves unsuccessful on 10 of their 12 corner kick opportunities, O-G broke through with 10:54 remaining before the half on an offering from Delaney Duling. Duling, the Titans set piece ace lobbed a shot from the right of Chagrin Falls keeper Izzy Pribanic that was glanced off the finger tips of the senior and in for the first score of the night.
1-0 OG pic.twitter.com/7YN0fRhRmn
— Michael Hirn (@MichaelHirnPBP) November 6, 2024
“In true Lady Titan soccer fashion, set pieces won us a tournament game,” exclaimed Maag. “We played well enough to earn 12 corners tonight. Delaney had great service into the box all game lone and eventually one bent into the net. There was a lot of congestion in front of the net too so that’s a hard ball to defend.”
Ottawa Glandorf ran their advantage to 2-0 with 13:39 to go in the contest as an indirect kick offering from senior Megan Horstman bounced just in front of teammate Liv Grothause and was sent into the net off the bounce past Pribanic for a Titan goal.
2-0 OG on a Liv Grothause goal pic.twitter.com/KhFiMCkVwl
— Michael Hirn (@MichaelHirnPBP) November 6, 2024
“Liv had a great game on both sides of the ball,” said Maag. “She defended well and generated some dangerous chances for us in the attack. Her finish on the goal was calm in the midst of a lot of chaos in the box.”
Chagrin Falls, state champions in 2021 sees their season come to an end with a record of 13-6-4. Senior keeper Izzy Pribanic turned away 14 Ottawa Glandorf shots in the loss.
O-G (20-2) will move on to take on the Cincinnati Summit Country Day Nighthawks on Friday at Historic Crew Stadium at 4pm. Last season the Nighthawks defeated the Titans for the Division III championship 1-0 in the same stadium the two squads will next square off on.
“We have another opportunity to win a title on Friday,” said Maag. “It’s up to us to make the most of it, Summit is an incredible team. We will spend the next couple of days preparing for the challenge.”
Scoring:
O-G – Delaney Duling – 10:54
O-G – Liv Grothause – 13:39
Assists:
O-G – Megan Horstman (1)
Saves:
O-G – Libbie Niese (4)
CF – Izzy Pribanic (14)