SHELBY – Ottawa Glandorf is headed back to the state finals for a third consecutive year after defeating Manchester 5-1 at Shelby High School on Tuesday evening.
Facing a team with as much firepower as their own high octane offense the Titans knew they were in for a challenge against a Panthers squad they knocked out of last seasons state semifinals. “Defensively I thought we did a great job of limiting their firepower, everybody bought in to defending together” said Titans coach Michelle Maag.
OG junior captain Makenna Siefker broke through for the first marker of the evening with 32:04 remaining when she snagged a high turf bounce and curved a shot past Manchester keeper Jayden McKinney to put the blue and gold ahead 1-0.
“Tonight was a fantastic effort on both ends of the field. Offensively we did a great job of being multi-dimensional and scoring goals in a variety of ways while taking what the defense gave us” said Maag.
McKinney, a state champion wrestler in the winter found herself forced into action between the pipes due to starter Madi Cox’s unavailability thanks to a red card issued to her in the regional finals win over Champion.
Moments before the half the Titans ran their advantage to 2-0 thanks to a blast to the top corner on a runner from the opposite side near the corner of the box with 1:14 showing on the stadium scoreboard.
Tasked with keeping an offense led by senior Katie Norris scoreless, Karsyn Erford stood tall to the task for much of the games second half after turning away a pair of big Panther efforts in the first 40 minutes.
Less than :30 into the second half the Titans jumped ahead 3-0 on a lead from Myka Aldrich and a goal from Makenna Siefker that not only tied the school record for goals in a season with 35 for herself but pushed the Titans into sole possession of the program record of 123 in one campaign.
“The early goal in the first half was big but the goal right after halftime was massive” said Maag. “We talked at halftime about coming out on the front foot and still playing aggressive with the lead which I thought we did a good job of early in the second half today”.
After sharing the record with former Titan standout Jackie Inkrott during her 2001 season, Siefker struck again to take sole possession of the record just over five minutes later at 34:29 and give OG a 4-0 lead.
Entering play on Tuesday night Katie Norris had sliced and diced opposing defenses for 61 goals and 24 assists on her way to Walsh University. On this night the future Cavalier found shots hard to come by but managed to force a tie with St. Clairsville’s Alyssa Otto’s 2017 season as she crossed over a Titan defender and lifted a shot past Erford with 19:53 left to cut her squads deficit to 4-1.
“Karsyn made a couple huge saves in the first half to keep them off the board and we didn’t give any good looks to Norris in the first half” said Maag.
With time running down over the final seconds the Titans added their final tally, a long shot from the foot of senior Bri Douglass to secure a 5-1 victory and return trip to Columbus.
“We’re headed back to Columbus for one more game together this season on Friday. The team is proud of the result tonight but is excited to write the last page of this season” finished Maag on her thoughts on the victory.
Manchester finishes the season 22-1 with their first loss since last seasons state semifinals where they fell 2-0 to OG in Mansfield.
Ottawa Glandorf (22-1) will take on Cincinnati Country Day in a rematch of last seasons title tilt Friday at 7pm at Historic Crew Stadium as the Indians were victorious over Madeira 4-0 in their own state semifinal on Tuesday evening.
Goals:
32:04 – Makenna Siefker (OG)
1:14 – Delaney Duling (OG)
39:35 – Makenna Siefker (OG)
34:29 – Makenna Siefker (OG)
19:53 – Katie Norris (M)
:01 – Bri Douglass (OG)
Assists:
2 – Mackenzie Recker (OG)
1 – Bri Douglass (OG)
1 – Makenna Siefker (OG)
Shots:
12 – OG
7 – M
Saves:
7 – Jayden McKinney
6 – Karsyn Erford