Lions top Mohawks in sectional final
Lead Summary

By
The Highland County Press-
LEESBURG — The Fairfield Lions have won a sectional championship, stamping their invite to a district semifinal match with a 3-2 win Wednesday against the Northwest Mohawks.
In pouring rain from the opening buzzer until the final second ticked off the clock, the Lions and Mohawks battled all the weather and field conditions thrown at them, but it was the Lions who came out on top with three second-half goals for the Division III sectional victory.
"The boys played with a lot of heart," FHS coach Brian Ortlieb said. "This team just does not quit. I'm so proud of the way they keep pushing through, no matter the circumstances."
In fact, the match was tied at zero entering the half, as all five goals by the two teams were scored in the final 40 minutes of play.
The Lions were first to score with Austin Palmer scoring, but after consecutive goals by Northwest, the Lions trailed 2-1.
Blake Hildebrant tied the game with a second-half penalty kick.
Palmer came back with his second goal, the game-winning goal, with nearly 8:00 remaining in the match. The assist was credited to Ryan Bates.
"Austin had a really good game," Ortlieb said.
The win puts the Lions in familiar territory as they will travel to face Southern Hills League rival Eastern Brown on Monday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. at EBHS in the district semifinal match.
The win lifts the Lions to 7-6-4 overall.[[In-content Ad]]
In pouring rain from the opening buzzer until the final second ticked off the clock, the Lions and Mohawks battled all the weather and field conditions thrown at them, but it was the Lions who came out on top with three second-half goals for the Division III sectional victory.
"The boys played with a lot of heart," FHS coach Brian Ortlieb said. "This team just does not quit. I'm so proud of the way they keep pushing through, no matter the circumstances."
In fact, the match was tied at zero entering the half, as all five goals by the two teams were scored in the final 40 minutes of play.
The Lions were first to score with Austin Palmer scoring, but after consecutive goals by Northwest, the Lions trailed 2-1.
Blake Hildebrant tied the game with a second-half penalty kick.
Palmer came back with his second goal, the game-winning goal, with nearly 8:00 remaining in the match. The assist was credited to Ryan Bates.
"Austin had a really good game," Ortlieb said.
The win puts the Lions in familiar territory as they will travel to face Southern Hills League rival Eastern Brown on Monday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. at EBHS in the district semifinal match.
The win lifts the Lions to 7-6-4 overall.[[In-content Ad]]