Perrysburg sophomore midfielder Zach Schroeder (9) is defended by Sylvania Northview junior Landen Martinez (5), who often opposed Schroeder in face offs. (Photo by Scott Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)
PERRYSBURG — In both teams’ season opener, Perrysburg senior attack Evan Wolaver scored the game-winner in overtime to lead his team to a 7-6 victory over Sylvania Northview Friday at Steinecker Stadium.
“He received the ball from down low (behind the net) and hit a Canadian shot for the game winner,” Perrysburg coach Baily Weatherwax said.
Wolaver would never have had the opportunity if it weren’t for the face-off skills of Perrysburg sophomore midfielder Zach Schroeder.
Perrysburg was 14-for-16 in winning draws, with Schroeder taking nearly all of them. The Yellow Jackets were a perfect 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter and sudden victory overtime.
In lacrosse, if you don’t win the draw, you don’t get possession, unless you force a turnover, penalty, ground ball, or rebound a missed shot.
To start the OT, Schroeder not only took his seventh straight draw, it only took one minute and 22 seconds for Wolaver to score the game winner. The Wildcats were never on offense during the extra time on the pitch.
Schroeder was pleased with the result but feels like the Yellow Jackets should never have let it come down to that. He believes that will come with time.
“I feel like we could have gotten there a little quicker and we should have, but I think our teamwork for the rest of the season is going to help us a lot,” Schroeder said.
It was also the Northern Lakes League opener for both teams, but Weatherwax is eager to see his team improve as the season continues.
Granted, the game was played in temperatures looming in the 30s with heavy winds, and neither team was connecting on passes in the first half, but the second half did look more like two solid lacrosse teams going at each other. The game saw 43 turnovers, including 23 by Perrysburg.
“It’s very cold, you know, and the kids are definitely coming off the sidelines cold,” Weatherwax said.
“It definitely showed that it was our first game. We’ve got some kinks to work out, but I think the boys were able to battle back against a real tough opponent tonight.”
Meanwhile, the Wildcats were pleased to be able to force a tie with the Jackets at the end of regulation.
“Obviously, we were looking for a different ending, but that is a very exciting game,” Northview coach Kody Bonner said. “We looked good as a team overall. We just wish we could have pulled it off in the end.
“But they are a good team, we played them well, and they had a lot of respect for the game, so I appreciate that.”
Schroeder was not only an impact player on the draw, but also led his team in scoring with four goals, Wolaver scored two goals and had an assist, and senior attack Cameron Davidson had a goal and an assist.
Perrysburg defenseman Ethan Johnson was instrumental down the stretch, forcing four straight turnovers leading to ground balls that put the Jackets consistently back on offense in the fourth quarter.
Six different Northview players scored — senior midfielders Will Rosche and Zack Mitchell, sophomore midfielder Zach Gfell, senior defenseman Ronan Cripe, senior attack Evan Shirey and junior attack Liam Deising.
Deising scored with 2:10 remaining in the fourth to tie the game. After Schroeder won the ensuing draw, in part due to a Northview violation, the Jackets pounded a flurry seven shots at the net trying to get the game-winner in regulation.
That included at least two shots each by Schroeder and Wolaver, but Perrysburg gave up possession on a turnover with 22 seconds remaining. Northview got off a final shot at the final whistle, but Perrysburg sophomore goalie Nathan Ettore was there for the save.
Perrysburg outshot Northview 41-25, including 15-8 in the fourth quarter, but Northview senior goalie Reilly Cripe had 17 saves while Ettore finished with 11 saves.
