See a photo gallery from the game here. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Oh, so close. ¶
See a photo gallery from the game here.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Oh, so close. ¶
Hathaway Brown will just have to be satisfied that it nearly pulled off the best championship-season comeback in the history of Ohio soccer. Of course, that will be easier written than accepted by the Blazers after the heartbreak of losing to top-ranked Cincinnati Madeira, 2-1, in overtime in the Division II girls title match Saturday at Columbus Crew Stadium. ¶
The Blazers, who started their postseason run with a 6-9-1 mark, were denied the championship when Madeira senior Katie Landgrebe scored from in front of the net with 6:30 remaining in the first overtime session for the sudden-death victory. Winning seven straight in the playoffs, the Blazers bow out at 13-10-1. No boys or girls team had ever won a title with more than six losses. ¶
"We grew as the season went on," said Hathaway Brown coach Dennis Weyn, who started the program 11 years ago. "It’s tough that only one team can win. I’m incredibly proud of these girls. "Not a lot of people expected us to be here. We were eight minutes away from winning." ¶
They certainly were. ¶
In a game featuring tight defense, the Blazers found one of the few openings midway through the second half. Junior captain Kate Dolansky had the Blazer faithful feeling like champions when she put away a shot from 10 yards with 16:35 to go. It was set up by a crossing pass from junior Sophie Daroff. ¶
It was a matter of hanging on at that point, but the Amazons (21-0-3) caught a break when sophomore midfielder Lysette Roman was given a yellow card for rough play about 40 yards out. ¶
On the restart, Madeira senior Cari Rusk scored off a scramble in front of Hathaway Brown senior goalkeeper Grace Redmon with 9:18 left. ¶
The call against Roman did not sit well with Weyn. ¶
"Just an awful call," said Weyn. "They deserved it because they scored the goal. But it changed things." ¶
Decimated by injuries all season, the Blazers had another one when Redmon had to leave the game for a minute after a collision put her on the ground. She returned to finish regulation, but was obviously hurting. ¶
Everyone on the Hathaway Brown side was in misery when the miracle run ended with such finality in the extra session. Redmon, like most of her teammates, spent several minutes on the ground, head in hands, after the game-winning drive got past her. Finding a semblance of composure during the awards ceremony did not come easy. ¶
The Amazons outshot the Blazers, 12-5. Redmon made the game’s only save. ¶
The Blazers won titles in 2004 and 2007. They had to give back last year’s championship when it was ruled they had used an ineligible player. ¶
It was Madeira’s first championship.