Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Whenever Alexander and Unioto match up on the soccer pitch, you can throw records out and know that you are going to get a hard-fought battle between two of the elite programs in the Southeast District.
On Thursday, both squads lived up to the billing, piling in seven goals in a hotly-contested match that came down to the final minutes before Unioto was able to pull out a 4-3 victory.
The Shermans (5-9), who have dealt with the injury bug lately, were handed another bad break, literally, as sophomore goalkeeper Blake Egginger was injured during the pregame and was unable to play.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
As the pregame introductions were completed, a late amendment was made stating that freshman Chase Danison would be taking over between the pipes.
The Spartans (2-10-2) immediately took advantage of the late adjustment as senior Mason Morris scored in the opening minute on a miscommunication between Unioto’s backline.
“I think that first goal woke him up,” Unioto’s Bryce Derringer said of Danison. “He was thrown into playing goalie about thirty seconds before kickoff. So he didn’t really know. We didn’t plan on him playing. Blake gets hurt and we don’t even know what’s going on. So it’s like, ‘Alright Chase, you have to talk and step up.’ He did that after a little mishap in the first five minutes. He grew up.”
Morris would have added a second goal, but a teammate was deemed to be off-sides, taking a would-be goal for Morris off the board and allowing Unioto a chance to breathe in the early goings.
On Unioto’s first attempt on target, freshman Luke Mautz accepted a pass near the top of the box and cut to his left, where he ripped a nasty shot into the opposite side netting to tie the match at 1-1 with 31:01 to play in the opening stanza.
The Shermans’ midfield began to take over possession as Liam Mathey, Elliott Allsop, Zack Wallace and Kooper Lambert gave the Tanks the advantage through crisp passing and aggressive attacking.
This led to a foul call outside of the box with just over 20 minutes to play in the half, which Mautz converted with a rocket past the keeper to give the Tanks a 2-1 lead.
The lead would stand, thanks in part to a couple of outstanding saves from Danison, including a diving save to deny Morris his brace with 15 minutes to play, in the opening half.
After the break, the Spartans were the team coming out with energy, which resulted in an early goal to even things up. At the 35:14 mark, sophomore Gabriel Felts made a long run through the midfield before sending a nice, leading pass to Jake Roush. The junior took advantage of an opening on the far post to tie the game and pull the momentum to Alexander’s side.
The wild evening continued a few minutes later as Mautz finished his hat trick with 25:51 to play. The freshman scored his 18th goal of the season from the right side of the box, firing a low scorcher to beat the keeper to the near post, giving the Shermans the lead once again at 3-2.
However, Alexander knotted things up less than four minutes later when Morris finished off a quick counter-attack by winning a ball in the box and netting his second tally of the contest with 22:06 to play.
The Tanks, however, responded in a major way less than two minutes later. Derringer, a junior captain, settled a ball nearly 30 yards out and ripped a half volley into the back of the net with 20:25 to play — providing the eventual game-winning goal.
“The ball game came in and I chested it, and it bounced,” Derringer said. “Everyone is always yelling to get over the ball. I’m not a shooter, personally. It’s my second goal ever. So I just leaned over the ball, kicked it, a half-volley rocket right into the net. It’s the best feeling in the world, though.”
Following Derringer’s heroics, it would be up to Danison and the Shermans’ backline — Lucas Martin, Isaac Ridder, William Whitten and Mathey — to maintain the lead and allow the Shermans to win their fifth game this season.
Another wrench would be thrown in for the Tanks when Martin had to leave with an injury and was replaced with sophomore Cole Stamper. Stamper, who had not played in the contest, had to play the final 15 minutes against Morris, the Spartans’ leading scorer, who had been outstanding all evening.
“He stepped up and played a heck of a game,” Derringer said of Stamper. “He worked his tail off.”
Alexander would only get one more point-blank chance as Derringer was called for a high kick with just over 10 minutes to play, leading to an indirect kick for the Spartans inside the 18-yard box.
Following the initial touch and shot, it appeared as if the Spartans were going to even the scoreline again. But Derringer was able to make up for his miscue, saving the shot off the goalline at the last moment to keep Unioto in front.
The youth-laden Shermans were able to hold on for the final 10 minutes to pick up the much-needed win, thanks in part to Danison, who made eight saves during the game.
Things certainly don’t get any easier for the Tanks as they’ll travel to Minford on Saturday, before hosting Zane Trace on Monday. Alexander hits the road once again on Saturday, heading to North Adams.
Scoring Summary
1st Half
39:05 (Alexander) Mason Morris
31:01 (Unioto) Luke Mautz (Liam Mathey)
20:19 (Unioto) Mautz (2 – direct kick)
2nd Half
35:14 (Alexander) Jake Roush (Gabriel Felts)
25:51 (Unioto) Mautz (3)
22:06 (Alexander) Morris (2)
20:25 (Unioto) Bryce Derringer
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