By Bill Bray
FINDLAY – When the clock reached triple zeros the season did the same for the Ross boys soccer team. Findlay (9-3-5) defeated the Giants 7-1 in a Division I Sectional final.
The Trojans scored two first half goals within the first 15 minutes of the game. But the Ross defense played their typically tough aggressive game and as the half ended, Fremont (10-7-1) was in the game down only 0-2.
With the Trojans up 3-0, Fremont’s Ayden Carter delivered the ball to Carter Rodriquez who travelled down the western sideline toward the north goal and drilled the ball past the Trojan goalie for a Ross goal at the 30:37 of the second half.
But after that it was all Findlay. Over the final 30 minutes the Trojans went on the offensive and the Little Giants were forced to be the defenders.
At the 22:00 mark, Findlay’s Joe Girardi gave his team a 5-1 lead then at the 17:49 the Trojans were in the net again with a goal from freshman Adrian Stechschulte.
The final Findlay goal came just :46 seconds after their sixth goal when junior Arda Dastan slammed one into the net to make the final score Findlay 7, Fremont Ross 1.
Despite the loss, Ross coach Alex Coressel had a smile. “I am so proud of this group of young men,” the coach said. “Last year we won three games, this year 10. We also won three league games this season compared to none last year.” What Coressel is certainly excited about is the fact that the team only loses two seniors. The one big loss the Giants will have to deal with is that of defender Haydn Marsee. Marsee was a constant presence as he assisted in keeping the ball out of the Ross goal. Junior goalie Logan Baacke who was the goalie of the year in the TRAC, will be back to attempt to continue his noticeable play in the net.
On Wednesday evening the Lady Little Giants were defeated 9-0 in a Sectional final game by a tough Sylvania Northview team. Ross finished the season 7-10-0. The Little Giants will say goodbye to Paige Drusback, Jaydyn Rozzell and Sami Schratt. Drusback and Rozzell finished their season with honorable mention honors in the TRAC.
Junior Connor Growel kicks the ball away from the Findlay goal.
Senior Haydn Marsee exits the soccer field for the final time as a Little Giant.