SANDUSKY – Though the amusement park known as Cedar Point was located five miles away from Strobel Field the Division 3 girls soccer state semifinals matched nearly any rollercoaster during it’s back and forth action Tuesday evening.
Ottawa Glandorf and Chippewa raced back and forth across the Cedar Point Stadium turf and traded turns deep into opponent territory but found each of their scores empty by the time the first 40 minutes came off the clock.
Spectacular saves by both Titan keeper Emma Brinkman and Chippewa stopper Mya Miller of opposing shots helped to keep the score 0-0 heading through the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Chippewa notched all five of their corner kicks in the first half of play but were forced to continually defend their own goal from Ottawa Glandorf corners in the second half to the tune of six Titan kicks.
On their last corner kick opportunity the Titans were able to break through on the scoreboard when a lofted ball from freshman midfielder Kaelyn Grothause was initially punched away and saved by Miller but redirected by sophomore Mackenzie Recker through a crowded front of the net and in for what would turn out to be the only goal of the contest with 26:04 remaining.
Mackenzie Recker goal gives OG a 1-0 lead over Chippewa pic.twitter.com/0rSlWsldKT
— Michael Hirn (@MichaelHirnPBP) November 10, 2021
Moments after the score from Recker the Titans would once again find themselves with an opportunity to add another marker but would be forced to watch as a Chippewa defender booted away a ball just in front of the goal line to keep the contest at 1-0.
Trailing late in the contest the Chipps began to push up into OG territory but were unable to score on the Titans to even things up as a pair of saves by Brinkman would keep the opposition offense off the board and send Ottawa Glandorf to their first state finals appearance since 2014 and their second overall.
That moment when you clinch a trip to the state finals! #GoOG pic.twitter.com/pEubw0OYpW
— Michael Hirn (@MichaelHirnPBP) November 10, 2021
Chippewa sees their season end with a 16-5-2 record while Ottawa Glandorf improves to 20-1 and will next take on Waynesville Friday at Lower.com Field in Columbus for the Division 3 state championship.
“The last five minutes of that game were the longest of my life. I’m proud of those girls, they were tough out there tonight. I’ll enjoy this one for about 20 minutes and then we’ll get to work for Friday” said OG coach Michelle Maag after the game.
Goal:
26:04 – Mackenzie Recker (OG)
Assist:
Kaelyn Grothause (OG)
Saves:
5 – Emma Brinkman (OG)
8 – Mya Miller (Chippewa)