COLUMBUS — The cruelest game took a bitter turn just past the midpoint of the first half.
Right as Aurora boys soccer was starting to settle in — making its state championship debut amid a wintry mix — Bishop Watterson’s Alex Das broke open.
The senior defender capped the breakaway with a goal, in the 23rd minute, and suddenly the Greenmen found themselves trailing for the first time since August.
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Aurora never could overcome that deficit.
Despite generating more and more quality chances in the latter minutes of the first half as well as much of the second, the Greenmen never could find the back of the net as the Eagles secured their first state title, 3-0.
“It’s tough to put into words right now, but in one word, I’ll just say that I’m proud of everything we accomplished,” Greenmen first-year coach Louis Kastelic said. “It’s not the end result we were looking for, but everything this team did from the day that I came in has made me proud and I know that we’re trending the right way as a program.”
In the closing minutes of the first half, Bishop Watterson’s Max Meacham struck for an insurance goal. Dangling perhaps five yards out of the box, Meacham fired a slick hopper into the lower-right portion of the net.
Again, the Greenmen battled back with some of their finest soccer of the night, but sophomore keeper Aedan Richardson maintained his clean line with a couple of diving saves.
In the 71st minute, the Eagles landed a dagger as Meacham sent a perfect cross to fellow senior midfielder Michael Quinn, who was parked maybe a yard or two in front of the keeper. There was nothing the keeper could do. The cross was perfect. So was Quinn’s header for a 3-0 lead.
The final score masks the resilience.
It doesn’t tell the story of a Greenmen team that adapted to the stage and to their competition.
Through five minutes, the Eagles held a 4-0 lead in shots (3-0 on frame). The Greenmen didn’t land their first shot until the 21st minute when senior Owen Peckinpaugh stole the ball at midfield and raced up the right side, lofting a shot over the leaping keeper but just over the bar.
But that’s the nature of the cruelest game.
Right as things were getting good, Das struck.
“It’s natural, right?” Kastelic said. “Like these guys playing in a stadium like this, with the history it has, all that stuff, you’re just going to be excited, anxious, nervous, all those things, so we just needed to get our feet under us and we did. We started to, and it was just unfortunate that we gave up a goal.”
And after a couple of valiant attempts at an equalizer, Meacham struck, too.
No Portage County team had made it to the state championship game in soccer before. The Greenmen brought home an unprecedented trophy in county history. Their 14 seniors walked away from Historic Crew Stadium cold and hurting, but also with a legacy that cannot be replicated.
“I’m proud of the fact that even though those goals happened, we still fought,” Kastelic said. “We didn’t get down on each other too much. We lifted one another up at halftime and gave it our best.”
Quick look at the final stats
Bishop Watterson led 15-10 in shots, including a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal. Aurora led 5-2 in corners.
Alex Das scored the game’s first goal on a breakaway in the 23rd minute. Max Meacham took over from there with a brilliant shot to the lower-right pocket of the net from well outside the box in the 35th minute, followed by a stellar cross to Michael Quinn for a header goal in the 71st.
Bishop Watterson wins its first state title
The Eagles’ fifth state appearance results in a 3-0 victory.
Bishop Watterson’s first boys soccer state championship.
A tough end to a magical season for the Greenmen.
Much more to come!
Michael Quinn with the dagger for Watterson
What a ball right there from Max Meacham to fellow senior midfielder Michael Quinn for the header goal with 9:08 remaining. That pushes the Eagles’ lead to 3-0. Just a remarkable cross from Meacham. He sent that to the perfect spot. Just out of reach of the keeper with Quinn then able to head it by the keeper, who was maybe a foot away from him trying to contest that cross.
Aurora running out of time
The Greenmen have gotten better and better as this game has progressed but alas they are running out of time.
They’re actually even with the Eagles in shots this half at four apiece. It’s 3-2 Greenmen in terms of shots on frame.
But 2-0 Watterson with 10 minutes remaining.
Aedan Richardson with a couple of remarkable saves
The Greenmen have had some of their best chances of the night just now but a couple of remarkable diving saves by keeper Aedan Richardson to keep it 2-0 Eagles with 16:30 to play.
Bishop Watterson solid in back
The Eagles continue to be tough to crack. The back line has been so composed. Slick headers in the nick of time. Blocking a ton of passes and shots.
It’s 2-0 Watterson with 24 minutes left in regulation.
Halftime in Columbus
Cam Gentille with a nice effort in the 37th minute, angling through the box, battling past a defender or two and the keeper. Alas, the shot just a tad high.
It’s 2-0 Bishop Watterson at the half.
Max Meacham doubles Bishop Watterson’s lead
Quite a shot from Eagles senior midfielder Max Meacham from several yards outside of the box. From the middle of the field, Meacham ripped that ball to the lower-right corner.
It’s 2-0 Eagles with 5:38 left in the half.
Griffin McMaster, Kam Warnke nearly connect on equalizer
A close opportunity shortly after the Eagles took the lead. Griffin McMaster the excellent free kick from near midfield. Kam Warnke got a head on it and sent that ball just wide of the post. Still 1-0 Bishop Watterson.
Alex Das strikes first for Bishop Watterson
One tough step in back gives Alex Das a breakaway opportunity and he cashes in past the drawn-out keeper.
It’s 1-0 Bishop Watterson with 17:52 left in the half.
Owen Peckinpaugh lands a heck of a first shot for Aurora
What a first shot from the Greenmen as senior Owen Peckinpaugh the steal around midfield. He races up the right side and lofts a shot from well outside the box. It soars over the leaping keeper and lands on the top of the net. We’re still scoreless with 19 minutes left in the half.
Aurora still chasing its first shot
We’re scoreless with 25 minutes left in the first half.
Aurora still chasing its first shot.
Bishop Watterson has certainly controlled possession thus far.
Watterson controls the early minutes
The Eagles lead 5-0 in shots (3-0 on frame) through six scoreless minutes in Columbus.
Wintry conditions in Columbus
It’s in the thirties, there’s a wintry mix coming down but the Greenmen student section doesn’t care. They’re making plenty of noise as we begin.
Meet the Aurora High School boys soccer team
The Greenmen had made state twice before, in 2012 and 2017, but had never gotten to the championship game. Until this week, with Aurora topping CVCA in overtime off a Jordan West throw-in that Owen Peckinpaugh was able to prod in by the far post. West (22 goals, 29 assists) is a tremendous facilitator who is equally dangerous kicking or throwing the ball. Kam Warnke (20 goals, 10 assists) and Cam Gentille (19 goals, 12 assists) have also played leading roles in Aurora’s attack while Bryce Peckinpaugh stars in net. The Greenmen haven’t dropped a game since their opener, a 3-2 loss to Strongsville Aug. 16.
Meet the Bishop Watterson High School boys soccer team
Like the Greenmen, the Eagles needed a little extra time to advance to the state championship game, topping Badin in overtime in the state semifinals. Sam Meacham, after he was robbed twice late in regulation, delivered a free kick that Grayson Davis headed home for the winner. Logan Bills and Alex Das also play a key role in orchestrating Watterson’s attack. The Eagles’ state run nearly came to an end in the district championship game as they fell behind 2-0 to top-seeded Granville. Again, Bills and Davis provided the spark with goals to tie it up by halftime.
Contact Jonah L. Rosenblum at jrosenblum@recordpub.com and follow him on Twitter at @JLRSports.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: OHSAA soccer scores | Aurora vs. Bishop Watterson high school updates, highlights
Reporting by Jonah Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
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