Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Marietta wanted revenge and Fairfield Union wanted a repeat performance of last season’s district final.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
In the end, the Tigers made history.
After being pushed to sudden death in overtime, Katelyn Schenkel was the hero as she struck halfway through the period to claim a 2-1 victory and bring an end to the Falcons’ season in a Division II regional semifinal on Tuesday.
“We sort of went away from some things that got us to this point in terms of ball control and we struggled to finish some chances that we had that could have changed the outcome,” Fairfield Union coach Casey Bischof said. “But the fight of this team showed until the final moment and it’s hard to see them go out like this because they all truly loved one another and wanted one last chance at a regional crown.”
The victory clinches Marietta’s first-ever regional final appearance.
“Knowing how last season finished for us was more motivating than anything,” Marietta’s Caroline Cortopassi said. “We knew Fairfield Union was a really good team and it was going to take a lot of hard work to get the win. This is the farthest that Marietta women’s soccer has ever gone, and it’s such a great feeling.”
Marietta set the tone early using its level of physicality, making things uncomfortable for the Falcons’ offense to string passes together.
The Falcons, however, still managed to absorb the blows and use their speed to create opportunities. They had an early chance to score with a 1-on-1 breakaway, but Marietta’s Leigha Lauer made a tough save in goal to keep the game scoreless.
The minutes continued to tick, and just before the halftime whistle was about to sound, Cortopassi gave herself a little birthday gift.
Off of a feed from Taylor Addis, the freshman forward found an opening on the left side of the goal and struck the back of the net, putting the Tigers ahead 1-0 at halftime.
“It was a big ball played towards Taylor and I was hoping she’d look through because we’ve been practicing all week for those spots that were open through the players,” Cortopassi said. “She fed me the best ball I could ask for, I looked low and the spot was there. And as soon as I came off she told me that was her birthday present to me.”
The sense of urgency picked up for the Falcons, as did their level of physicality. They had to match Marietta’s strength and empty their gas tank if they wanted a chance to equalize.
They continued to push and battled as time rolled on, and got a gift from the soccer gods above with 13:45 remaining.
They crossed the ball into the box, and it took a hop right over the keeper’s arms into the body of Claudia Rhymer, who just used her body to push the ball in the goal to tie the game at 1-1 and force overtime.
After six minutes of extra time, Marietta’s Katelyn Schenkel had seen enough and decided it was time to go home.
With the ball played directly to her, she sent her shot just over the outstretched hands of the Falcons’ keeper into the back of the net to send the Tigers into the Elite Eight.
“It was the perfect setup all the way and a perfect play right to Katie [Mannix], and she took her space in which is what she does best,” Schenkel said. “I called for it and I’m thankful that she trusted me at that moment to get a nice shot off. We felt as prepared as we could be coming into this game, and we mentally prepared for this game all season because we wanted another shot at Fairfield Union.”
Closing out one of the best chapters in Fairfield Union history, this senior class finished with a total record of 65-11-7 that includes four sectional titles, three district championships and a regional final appearance.
The Falcons say goodbyes to 12 seniors, including Rhymer, Grace Warthman, Chloe Thompson and Isabella Neal, who was named Division II District Player of the Year.
“These 12 seniors, man, they’re such a special group. We started with a core of six or seven when they were freshman and we picked up a few players along the way,” Bischof said. “But it didn’t matter if they played one year or all four years, they all believed in one another. We’ve had a lot of success over the past few years, but I’ve never experienced a group like this that was able to stay so close for so many years. They were there for everything and everyone, it’ll be tough to replace them for sure.”
As for Marietta, it advances to a Division II regional final at noon on Saturday at Zanesville High School against New Philadelphia, who defeated Dover 2-0 to move on.
“Our passing through the middle and out wide is something we’ll have to continue working on,” Cortopassi said. “I know that we can do this, and if we all just keep working together and solidify what we need to work on, we can make it.”
SPONSORED BY BO LACEY CONSTRUCTION
