Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PIKETON — For 101 minutes and 57 seconds, Fairfield Union’s Isabella Neal and Unioto’s Kelsie Igou went back and forth as the last line of their respective team’s defenses.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
However, the experience level between them couldn’t have been further apart.
Neal was at her keeper position last season for the Falcons’ run to the Elite Eight. Igou, however, was stepping into unfamiliar territory after an injury to Unioto starter Maya Free, making her first varsity start in a district final as a freshman.
But the moment wasn’t too big for her.
“Unioto has always had outstanding goalies for as long as I’ve known,” Fairfield Union coach Casey Bischof said. “Sydney Free was always one of my favorites to watch for four years, and now Maya has done a great job as well. And man, what a great job [Igou] did in goal. I had no idea who she was, but she was phenomenal. There were a number of times we had great looks at the goal and she came up with a lot of great saves.
“Knowing we have Bella on the other end who was also incredible tonight, it really frustrates both offenses and I think some doubt starts to creep in your mind if that goal is ever going to be scored. Goalkeepers don’t always get a ton of credit in high school soccer, but these two deserve a lot of credit for the way they both left everything they had on the field.”
The battle between the two goalies was a classic.
One save after another in the biggest moments with both teams on the attack. No panic at all in either’s eyes, just trust in their defense and trusting their own instincts.
But at 101 minutes and 58 seconds, it was Claire Brown who made the ultimate lasting impression.
On a free kick from the 14-yard line, she sent a shot into the back post that perfectly went over Igou’s head and into the back right corner of the net.
Ballgame. Pandemonium. Celebration. Relief.
Fairfield Union 1, Unioto 0.
“My free kicks weren’t really doing that well all night leading up to the last one,” Brown said. “I was looking for the back side net for something like what happened, or at least getting the ball close enough to where someone could knock it in.”
It brought an end to another instant classic between the two Division II soccer powerhouses.
Despite a high level of physicality and injuries on both sides, it’s never anything but mutual respect no matter outcome.
“We know that every time this game happens, it’s going to be a slugfest and there aren’t going to be many chances for a goal,” Bischof said. “[Unioto coach] Jeremy [Clark] does such a great job with those girls and it was a battle until the end. Girls are just banging into one another, but they’re also helping to pick one another up. There was no quit and it’s amazing to watch how much fight our girls had for that amount of time. For anyone who says that soccer isn’t a physical game, just watch one of these games.”
As the minutes ticked and the deeper the game went, the offensive pressure started to ramp up for both teams as the sense of urgency kicked in.
Shots rang out, but saves continued to be made and that led to overtime. Unioto (13-7) had the first strike, but Neal was right there to corral it and put it back into play.
Then the Falcons (14-1-5) had what seemed like the best possible chance at a goal.
They were awarded a free kick from just outside the box. The shot curved left through an opening, but through the pile was Igou to come up with the biggest save, at the moment, to push the game to a second overtime.
After a free kick was awarded to the Falcons in double overtime, Brown squared up her shot, delivered the goods, and sent her team back home with a district title in hand.
“It’s definitely great to hold this for a second year in a row,” Neal said with the title plaque in her hands. “We really dug deep for this one and we’ve been in close games throughout the season. Our practices are tough, but I think that’s what sets us up for games like this and allows us to play as hard as we did for as long as we did to bring the title back.”
Fairfield Union advances to play in a Division II regional semifinal against Marietta, who defeated Jackson to move on. That matchup will happen at 6 p.m., Tuesday at Chillicothe’s Herrnstein Field.
“Our biggest thing at this point is to get some rest, see who is injured and who is still ready to go,” Bischof said. “Getting four days off definitely helps, but we’ll prepare and get ready to have our legs moving again to hopefully keep this run going.”
SPONSORED BY BO LACEY CONSTRUCTION
