Lake junior Jackson Gladieux, right, and Delta’s Eli Mora chase after the ball during the first half of a district semifinal match Monday evening at Lake High School.
Scott W. Grau | Sentinel-Tribune
MILLBURY — Two unbeatens, Lake and Delta, squared off in a Division II district semifinal boys soccer game at Lake Community Stadium Monday. Someone had to lose.
It took 80 minutes of soccer, two 15-minute overtimes, and a penalty kick shootout, but Delta prevailed over Lake, 2-1, to end the Flyers’ season at 14-1-3.
Delta, 16-0-3, advances to take on Bowling Green (10-7-2) Thursday at 5 p.m. at Lake for the right to advance to the regional tournament, or the state’s Sweet 16.
Delta went 5-for-5 in its penalty kick shots, including the final shot taken by its junior goalkeeper Brodey Roth. Delta coach K.J. Abair said Roth lobbied hard for the chance to shoot last.
“They just said pick five kids and he was one of the five kids I picked, but he said, ‘You go through it, and I’ll go as the fifth one.’ I said, ‘Perfect.’”
“I said you guys choose, you are all playing well, so I don’t care whichever one wants to go when. Brodey was just, ‘I just know I want to be fifth so if I can stop the last one. I’ll give you more momentum if I score.’ ‘Perfect.’”
The Flyers had one miss during the shootout, which proved to be the difference. However, the marathon three-hour game saw its share of ups and downs by both teams.
In the first half, with the wind at their back, Delta outshot Lake 6-2, but the Flyers’ only shot on goal was by senior midfielder Kaiden Reed.
It paid off as Delta sophomore defenseman Caiden Etter took advantage of Lake senior goalkeeper Holden Wodrich hitting the turf just as he was closing in for the score.
Etter whiffed at his first shot, but connected on his second, and no one was there for the save.
In the second half, Lake outshot Delta 13-6, including 7-5 in shots on net, and it paid for the Flyers.
Lake junior forward Jackson Gladieux sent a cross left, which was one timed into the net by junior forward Gael Rios, tying the game at 1-1 with 34:52 remaining.
The next 63 minutes and 52 seconds of soccer went scoreless, with Lake outshooting Delta 9-7 over the two overtimes, including four shots on goal by each team.
In all, Lake had a 24-18 advantage in shots and each team had 16 shots on net.
Wodrich and Roth had 15 saves apiece, but the final 70 minutes of the game seemed to belong to Lake, which had Abair concerned going into the first overtime.
Abair lost the coin flip, allowing Lake’s offense to move directly toward the north goal, which seemed to be where all the attacking was being done.
“I said, ‘We won the (first) half,’ and we went to flip for the overtime I said, ‘Oh, my God, that is the attacking half. Everyone was scoring over there,’” Abair said.
“So, this side was cursed, and we were playing great through the first, and we started out slow the second half,” Abair continued.
“I told them relax, every time they are going to come out with high pressure, you can come out and do this. Guys, we got to start strong.
“We started slow, but our defense was just phenomenal. It helped. That’s why we have 10 shutouts this season because that defensive line just stays together, they talk, they communicate so well, it is amazing. It is the best defense I’ve ever coached.”
Lake coach Brian Reed said part of the reason the Panthers had their way offensively the first half was Delta’s four-forward front line — something he was not prepared for.
“The first half, they were pushing those four forwards and that is a little new to us. We had to figure it out defensively. I think once we settled in, I think we had opportunities,” Reed said.
“I think the effort picked up in the second half and in the two overtimes, I thought we played great.”
Lake only starts three seniors, Wodrich, Kaiden Reed, and defender Mason Kos, so the cupboard will not be bare when coach Reed brings his team to the pitch again next year.
“Kaiden, Mason, and Holden really stepped up this year and are going to be really hard to replace with a goalkeeper, center back and an attacking midfielder that is leading the team in goals and assists,” coach Reed said.
“I think they are going to be tough to replace, but I think I have a good young core group that is coming in.
“(Midfielder) Preston (Snyder) is a freshman and he played great, (sophomore midfielder) Micah (Balsmeyer) is young, and Jack (Gladieux) and Gael (Rios) will be back. I think we are looking alright for the future.”
