Huskies, Big Red battle to hard-fought draw
Andrew Grimm GAINING CONTROL — Big Red's Landon Bowers looks to gain possession of a bouncing ball near midfield in front of Harrison Central's Zach Harbold during Thursday's match at Wagner Field.
Andrew Grimm SHIELDING — Harrison Central's Justin Scott tries to keep the ball away from Big Red's Teddy Gorman and Thomas Lucas.
Andrew Grimm IN PURSUIT — Harrison Central's Justin Scott tries to get to a loose ball before Big Red's Teddy Gorman
Andrew Grimm A STEP AHEAD — Harrison Central's Triston Cole tries to get past Big Red's Gabe Loot.
Andrew Grimm WORKING THE CORNER — Big Red's Landon Bowers looks to keep the ball in against pressure from the Huskies' Ethan Hercules.
Andrew Grimm GAINING CONTROL — Big Red's Landon Bowers looks to gain possession of a bouncing ball near midfield in front of Harrison Central's Zach Harbold during Thursday's match at Wagner Field.
Andrew Grimm SHIELDING — Harrison Central's Justin Scott tries to keep the ball away from Big Red's Teddy Gorman and Thomas Lucas.
Andrew Grimm IN PURSUIT — Harrison Central's Justin Scott tries to get to a loose ball before Big Red's Teddy Gorman
Andrew Grimm A STEP AHEAD — Harrison Central's Triston Cole tries to get past Big Red's Gabe Loot.
Andrew Grimm WORKING THE CORNER — Big Red's Landon Bowers looks to keep the ball in against pressure from the Huskies' Ethan Hercules.
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CADIZ -- With the tournament seeds already set and the OVAC tournament in the rear view, it would be reasonable to believe there is not much to play for this week for soccer teams in Ohio.
No one told Steubenville and Harrison Central that.
The Huskies and Big Red battled with the intensity of a tournament game Thursday night at Wagner Field, resulting in a 2-2 draw that came down to the final seconds.
The host Huskies, celebrating their senior night and recognizing their youth program at halftime, had the lead twice in the second half. Big Red battled back to tie it both times, including an equalizing goal with 13 seconds left.
“It was a good, clean, high intensity game of soccer,” Harrison Central head coach Derek Gramling said. “We had the lead twice, they broke our hearts a little bit at the end scoring in the last 20 seconds to tie it, but we’ve played them 10 times since I’ve been the coach here and we’ve always lost, this was a first time the result wasn’t a loss, so I am proud of our boys.
“I wish we could have hung on, but we’re playing really well and competing with good teams. If we can compete with Steubenville, we feel like we can compete with just about anyone because Steubenville is one of the elite programs in the East District.”
Big Red, to its credit, did not get down after either Huskies goal and pushed hard to the finish to earn the draw.
“We didn’t play our best soccer, we did not come out prepared and that is on me,” Big Red head coach Greg Bowers said. “It was their senior day and they had their youth players here, this meant a lot to them to try and take us down. I gave our guys credit, we kept pushing and fighting to the end, but we have to come out better from the start of the game.
“We’re going into the time of the year where you have to come out ready to go or you’ll be packing up the gear real quick, so hopefully we learn from this and come out ready for the tournament.
“Harrison Central is a good team, they won nine of ten and took down St. Clairsville, they’re on a hot streak and they were coming out to take us down, too. Hats off to Derek and his team, they’re playing really well and were a challenge for us.”
After a scoreless first half, the Huskies (9-4-3) broke through just 1:03 into the second half when Triston Cole connected from in close, making it 1-0 hosts.
The Huskies, who are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games, had several quality chances to extend the lead, missing on a couple of free kicks off of fouls and being denied by Big Red keeper JJ Lamantia (seven saves) on a few more good looks.
Then, the tide turned and Big Red (12-3-2) started pressing the other way until Chase Beall directed a Thomas Lucas corner kick past Huskies keeper William DiLoreto (seven saves) to knot the score with 12:21 to play.
The Huskies, though, went the other way looking to get the goal back, and did off another free kick chance when Zach Harbold connected on a second chance opportunity to make it 2-1 with 9:14 to go.
Big Red went back on the attack and had a few good looks miss the net before getting a corner kick in the closing seconds.
With the clock running, Lucas sent a perfect shot from the corner and did not touch anything but the twine to knot the score and send the intense battle to an even finish.
UP NEXT
Big Red: Will now turn its attention to the Division III East District Tournament. Steubenville, the No. 2 seed, hosts No. 6 seed Zanesville on Tuesday night at Harding Stadium in the opening round.
“Zanesville plays a really tough schedule and you know you’re getting to everyone’s best shot now,” Bowers said. “We are going to have to have our ‘A’ game from here on out.”
Harrison Central: Has one more regular season game, a trip to Union Local on Saturday, before hosting No. 4 Tusky Valley in the opening round of the Division V East District tournament next Thursday. The Huskies are the No. 3 seed in the bracket. The teams tied in the regular season.
“We have a lot of confidence right now, but we don’t want to be overconfident, either,” Gramling said. “We’re really looking forward to the tournament and that match up. Hopefully we can keep it going.”