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Girls Soccer: Bexley 2, Jonathan Alder 1
Nov 03, 2009
Leah Levey's long free-kick goal with 4:46 to play gave Bexley's girls soccer team its fifth consecutive district championship, as the Lions defeated Jonathan Alder 2-1 in a Division II district title game Saturday at Dublin Scioto.
The Lions, who improved to 17-0-3 and are the state's top-ranked team, move on to a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday against River View. Bexley has won 10 district titles since 1999.
"Our motto this year has always been 'Never say die,'" said Levey, who scored her game-winning goal shortly after Jonathan Alder tied the game at 1. "Never give up. Never stop. (Bexley coach Scott Dempsey) has always told us the last five minutes of the game are the most important, and we picked it up and we came back."
The Pioneers ended the season at 17-2 after playing in the program's first district final. Before the final, Jonathan Alder had scored at least three goals in 12 of its last 13 games.
"(A) tremendous season," Pioneers coach Dan Brady said. "(A) great battle out here tonight. Could have gone either way. We fought back, we played well and I'm very proud of all the girls. (It's) the first time any soccer team from Madison County has ever made it to a district final, so look for great things from this team next year."
Bexley broke the scoreless tie with just 1.9 seconds left until halftime when Charlotte Myers arched a long free kick following an Alder foul over the head of goalie Morgan Thobe.
The goal came shortly after Alder's best scoring chance of the half, as Colleen Brady worked her way through the Lions defense and had her low shot saved by Bexley keeper Amy Mautz.
Jonathan Alder tied the game with 6:56 left in regulation. Ashley Walter scored following a scrum in front of the net after a corner kick.
But just 2:10 later, Levey took advantage of another Pioneer foul, scoring on her own long free kick to put the Lions back on top for good.
"They were very opportunistic when it counted," Dempsey said of Myers and Levey. "Big players play big in big games. Doesn't get much bigger than a championship game. They understand what it takes."
The Lions had a 20-13 advantage in shots, and the Pioneers led in corner kicks 7-5. Mautz made seven saves, and Thobe stopped eight shots.
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