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Boys Soccer: Gahanna 1, Dublin Coffman 0
Nov 01, 2009
By BRAD EMERINE
ThisWeek Staff Writer
The game time and site may have changed several times, but the expected result did not.
The top-seeded Gahanna Lincoln High School boys soccer team scored midway through the second half and held on to down eighth-seeded Dublin Coffman 1-0 in a Division I district championship Saturday at Wellington.
Senior midfielder Cody Popelas knocked in his fourth goal of the tournament with 18 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the game as the Lions improved to 18-0-1. They will play Hilliard Davidson in a regional semifinal 7 p.m. Tuesday at Coffman.
The Shamrocks finished 10-7-2.
The scoring play began on a throw-in from the corner by senior Saad Abbul-Salaam. The ball knocked around a bit, and Popelas found it on the far post.
"Their defender headed it, and I just came in and chested it and was able to get it right to my feet for the shot," Popelas said.
"Cody always makes tremendous runs on the outside, and in that situation I'm just looking for the open man," Abbul-Salaam said. "I was trying to get it to the back post and somehow it got there and Cody made the play."
Gahanna outshot the Shamrocks 17-7 and produced eight corner kicks, with Coffman managing just one corner.
"We created a lot of chances, especially in the first half, but couldn't get any shots in the goal," junior forward Wil Trapp said. "I told the guys to just keep plugging away and we'd get one. You can't get frustrated. You have to maintain your composure and just keep getting after it."
The shutout was the 16th of the season for Gahanna, which won a district title in 2006 before losing in a regional semifinal.
Senior goalkeeper Ryan Grimme was sheltered by his stifling defense and called upon to make just three saves. The Lions, who outscored their three district tournament foes 10-0, beat Coffman 3-0 in the season opener Aug. 29.
"Coffman played so much better than the first time," Gahanna coach Dwayne Marshall said. "I thought our defense bent a little at times, but didn't break. Plus, we attacked from our defense. We weren't just clearing balls. As well as we played, it was still a one-goal game and it makes you nervous because one wrong step can hurt you."
Coffman keeper Alex Pang made eight saves.
"(Pang) played his best game of the season and I thought we played very well on defense," Coffman coach Steve Watts said. "We played with a lot of heart. We wanted to attack more, but they're so good at keeping the ball and also very quick on defense. You have to make quicker decisions with the ball.
"There's a reason why (the Lions) haven't lost a game this season. They've got outstanding talent. But I am very pleased and really proud of our guys for the great effort we put forth."
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