Third round is a must-see
Lead Summary

By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hillsboro boys varsity soccer coach John Weber might have said it best during a phone interview Tuesday night after his Indians' boys soccer squad won their sectional semifinal match, earning the right to face the No. 1 seeded McClain Tigers this Saturday at McClain Field … "It will be a must-see game … no doubt about it.”
He’s right.
I'll echo that statement for this sectional final matchup with the winner earning a trip to the district tournament next Tuesday.
This won’t be your normal sectional final match ... not at all.
Think about it for a second ... many great rivalries come in threes.
There is Ali-Frazier, Bears-Packers (2010) and Steelers-Ravens (2010).
This is the third time the Tigers and Indians will meet on a soccer field.
Also think about this ... the best rivalries come from teams in the same division like the Yankees-Red Sox, Cowboys-Redskins, Bengals-Browns, Ohio State-Michigan, Florida State-Florida and Auburn-Alabama, just to name a few.
The Tigers and Indians both are from Highland County and play in the South Central Ohio League.
I’ll keep on saying it ... this is a must-see for fans of good, athletic sporting events.
If anyone, and I mean anyone claims to be a fan of the sport of soccer, especially high school soccer, and they have the means to attend the event … well, maybe they should make or change their plans to be at McClain Field on Saturday, Oct. 22 to watch this school soccer match.
I say this and soccer isn’t even my favorite sport, but I do love to see teams play three times in the same season.
Plus, if the play of the first two matches is met or exceeded the third time around (these two teams played twice during the SCOL regular season), anyone who views this match should be in for a treat.
You don't believe me, then look at some of these facts for starters:
• Combined goals in both matches: eight.
• Combined wins in both matches: one (they tied their first go-around).
• Each team has led 1-0 at halftime in the two previous meetings.
• Overall wins for teams combined this season: 24 (MHS 15, HHS 9).
If that's not enough to get the wallet open to attend this event, well, I can say with full honesty, their previous two matches this season are in my Top 5 soccer matches I've covered in 2011.
If you don't believe me here are parts of comments left online about the second match between the two teams:
"As a soccer fan with no allegiance to either team, this was the best soccer match I have seen from any local high school team this year! Both teams played with tremendous heart! Also, both coaches did a heck of a job with preparation to the game."
Here was another comment left on the website of The Highland County Press:
"Last night's game (Sept. 26) was thrilling, and was one of the best games of any sport I've seen in awhile."
Plus, whenever McClain and Hillsboro meet up in a tournament match in any sport, especially when it is their third meeting of the season it is guaranteed to be interesting to say the least.
What I've enjoyed about the two previous matches between these two teams was just the overall effort. The effort isn't just there for a half or 50 minutes, but for the entire 80 minutes.
Also, this game is for a sectional title, a feat neither team has accomplished in a few years, so we know they'll be hungry, as we all know that always increases the intensity of a game.
Well, I’m sold.
Now do you want to know what my favorite part about this upcoming match really is? ... There won't be a tie.
I don’t like ties.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
He’s right.
I'll echo that statement for this sectional final matchup with the winner earning a trip to the district tournament next Tuesday.
This won’t be your normal sectional final match ... not at all.
Think about it for a second ... many great rivalries come in threes.
There is Ali-Frazier, Bears-Packers (2010) and Steelers-Ravens (2010).
This is the third time the Tigers and Indians will meet on a soccer field.
Also think about this ... the best rivalries come from teams in the same division like the Yankees-Red Sox, Cowboys-Redskins, Bengals-Browns, Ohio State-Michigan, Florida State-Florida and Auburn-Alabama, just to name a few.
The Tigers and Indians both are from Highland County and play in the South Central Ohio League.
I’ll keep on saying it ... this is a must-see for fans of good, athletic sporting events.
If anyone, and I mean anyone claims to be a fan of the sport of soccer, especially high school soccer, and they have the means to attend the event … well, maybe they should make or change their plans to be at McClain Field on Saturday, Oct. 22 to watch this school soccer match.
I say this and soccer isn’t even my favorite sport, but I do love to see teams play three times in the same season.
Plus, if the play of the first two matches is met or exceeded the third time around (these two teams played twice during the SCOL regular season), anyone who views this match should be in for a treat.
You don't believe me, then look at some of these facts for starters:
• Combined goals in both matches: eight.
• Combined wins in both matches: one (they tied their first go-around).
• Each team has led 1-0 at halftime in the two previous meetings.
• Overall wins for teams combined this season: 24 (MHS 15, HHS 9).
If that's not enough to get the wallet open to attend this event, well, I can say with full honesty, their previous two matches this season are in my Top 5 soccer matches I've covered in 2011.
If you don't believe me here are parts of comments left online about the second match between the two teams:
"As a soccer fan with no allegiance to either team, this was the best soccer match I have seen from any local high school team this year! Both teams played with tremendous heart! Also, both coaches did a heck of a job with preparation to the game."
Here was another comment left on the website of The Highland County Press:
"Last night's game (Sept. 26) was thrilling, and was one of the best games of any sport I've seen in awhile."
Plus, whenever McClain and Hillsboro meet up in a tournament match in any sport, especially when it is their third meeting of the season it is guaranteed to be interesting to say the least.
What I've enjoyed about the two previous matches between these two teams was just the overall effort. The effort isn't just there for a half or 50 minutes, but for the entire 80 minutes.
Also, this game is for a sectional title, a feat neither team has accomplished in a few years, so we know they'll be hungry, as we all know that always increases the intensity of a game.
Well, I’m sold.
Now do you want to know what my favorite part about this upcoming match really is? ... There won't be a tie.
I don’t like ties.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]