By Bill Bray
SYLVANIA — The Fremont Ross boys soccer team came into their contest with Sylvania Southview (1-1-1), a district finalist team from a year ago, as the underdog. When the scoreboard went to 0:00, the Little Giants had attained the unthinkable, a 0-0 tie for the second game in a row.
The Little Giants (0-0-2), made up of all underclassmen, led by an impressive defensive effort, completing what to them was the same as a victory.
Junior GK Cole Kinsey
The ball was on the Cougars side of the field most of the game. But the Fremont “Iron Curtain” shut down the multiple shots on goal by the aggressive Cougar offense.
“Cole Kinsey’s performance tonight in goal was absolutely amazing,” A happy Alex Coressel said. “Anything that came at him he handled in a calm, cool and collected manner.”
Freshman Defender Carson Lewis
Coressel praised his defensive “Iron Curtain” including junior Bryce Estep, sophomore Gabe Wensinger and Gabe Cruz, a first-year starter, along with rookie freshman Carson Lewis. “Two returners and two that didn’t play with us last season,” Coressel explained. “Bryce was the defensive leader tonight. The way he led tonight, you could hear him screaming directing the defense to help us and keep us intact.”
This tie against a high-quality opponent is a program defining moment. “This is something you wouldn’t have seen with our teams from a few years ago.” Coressel said with a chuckle,
Unofficially, Kinsey batted, caught, and otherwise saved every bit of a dozen shots kicked his way by the potent Cougar defense. The performance will put him near the top of the goalie list in the small division of the Northern Lakes League.
“I just had to be confident and decisive and be ready to take any ball on that was kicked in my direction,” The happy Junior keeper said after the shut-out tie. “Then on the probably 30 corner kicks I just had to make sure all our players were in the right spots. I didn’t grab the ball most of the time, I just punched it out and tipped it out. It still worked, to get the job done and leave them with no goals for the game.”