Tigers continue season; upset Indians
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — The third meeting between the season trilogy between the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers' boys soccer teams had a little bit of everything mixed into their 80-minute match Tuesday at Richards Memorial Field.
But what mattered most was the final goal by MHS senior Ben Chamblin, who put the No. 6 seeded Tigers ahead for good … continuing their season, while ending the Indians' by a 2-1 score in the Division II SE District Sectional opening round.
[[In-content Ad]]This was the second consecutive year MHS defeated the Indians in the sectional tournament.
"Our games with Hillsboro are always intense," MHS coach Jon Chamblin said. "I told our guys that this is a new season, and records don't matter anymore."
This was the Tigers' third win of the season as they are 3-10-2 overall.
"I told the guys to play with heart, intensity and to believe in themselves and they would come out a winner," Chamblin continued. "They took it to heart, and they wanted this win. Credit Hillsboro … they are a good team and played hard.
"I'm so proud of this team."
Earlier this season, it was Chamblin who kicked what was a game-tying goal against Lynchburg-Clay at McClain Field … this time around, his goal with 2:16 left in regulation of a win-or-go-home match in a very intense atmosphere in Hillsboro landed the Tigers in the next round of the sectional tournament while leaving the No. 3 seeded Indians to wonder what went wrong this time around as they previously defeated the Indians twice this season by scores of 5-4 and 5-0.
The goal began with Henri Nader passing the ball to Tommy Henry, who returned the ball back to Nader around the 20-yard line near the HHS goal. From there, Nader kicked the ball to his left to a running and wide-open Chamblin, who kicked the ball from around 18 yards away to the left side of the net, past the diving keeper of HHS for the lead.
"The last goal was picture perfect," Jon Chamblin said. "We had nice passes on the goal, and it worked. Glad Ben got the goal because he's a senior, and what a way for a senior to win a game in the sectional tournament."
The entire match had the postseason atmosphere, as the nine-win Indian squad had to play from behind for 30 minutes of the first half as Juan (Nic) Rivas scored the first goal for the Tigers as he put the ball into the back of the net on a header off a kick by Chamblin with 30:32 left in the opening half.
From there, senior keeper Tyler McGuire made some spectacular saves to keep the Tigers out front, but one kick by the Indians did get past McGuire late in the first half when senior Jordan O'Connor scored with 1:37 remaining in the opening 40 minutes on a breakaway with one defender around him, tying the score at 1-1.
"Honestly … we did not play to our full potential (Tuesday)," HHS coach John Weber said. "Our passes and traps were off, and McClain played four defenders, so when our two top scorers are double-teamed every time they get the ball, it is tough to score.
"Credit McClain … they answered everything we did. When we had the ball near their goal in the second half, we couldn't capitalize. Hats off to McClain … they came to play, that's for sure … they came to play."
As for other wacky occurrences in the match … there were four yellow cards served by the officials with each team handed two. The yellow cards were delivered for a uniform violation, aggressive player near a keeper on the ground, a block in the back and language. Three of the four yellow cards were delivered in the second half.
In the aforementioned second half, both teams had numerous chances to add to their scoring, but the shots didn't go the way of either school until Chamblin's with 2:16 left in regulation.
Coach Chamblin spoke about playing a team for the third time.
"We know them, and they know us. Our kids came to play, and they were ready to play," he said. "Sometimes it is hard to get a team to play with intensity, but (Tuesday) this kids did."
As for the Indians, seven seniors played their final game for HHS including: Brandon Carter, Connor Ernst, Jarrod Hart, Reese Leibreich, Jordan O'Connor, Michael Tamborski and Daniel Theobold.
"The seniors played their heart out in the game," Weber said. "I've never been more proud of a senior class as I am with this one. Every year since I've been here, we've improved our record, and I'm very pleased with this season overall … it just wasn't the ending I wanted.
"This loss is heartbreaking and I feel bad for the seniors."
HHS ends the season at 9-5-3 overall.
For the victorious Tigers, they move on to the sectional finals on Saturday, Oct. 20 as they will face either No. 2 Circleville or No. 7 Logan Elm at 4 p.m.
But what mattered most was the final goal by MHS senior Ben Chamblin, who put the No. 6 seeded Tigers ahead for good … continuing their season, while ending the Indians' by a 2-1 score in the Division II SE District Sectional opening round.
[[In-content Ad]]This was the second consecutive year MHS defeated the Indians in the sectional tournament.
"Our games with Hillsboro are always intense," MHS coach Jon Chamblin said. "I told our guys that this is a new season, and records don't matter anymore."
This was the Tigers' third win of the season as they are 3-10-2 overall.
"I told the guys to play with heart, intensity and to believe in themselves and they would come out a winner," Chamblin continued. "They took it to heart, and they wanted this win. Credit Hillsboro … they are a good team and played hard.
"I'm so proud of this team."
Earlier this season, it was Chamblin who kicked what was a game-tying goal against Lynchburg-Clay at McClain Field … this time around, his goal with 2:16 left in regulation of a win-or-go-home match in a very intense atmosphere in Hillsboro landed the Tigers in the next round of the sectional tournament while leaving the No. 3 seeded Indians to wonder what went wrong this time around as they previously defeated the Indians twice this season by scores of 5-4 and 5-0.
The goal began with Henri Nader passing the ball to Tommy Henry, who returned the ball back to Nader around the 20-yard line near the HHS goal. From there, Nader kicked the ball to his left to a running and wide-open Chamblin, who kicked the ball from around 18 yards away to the left side of the net, past the diving keeper of HHS for the lead.
"The last goal was picture perfect," Jon Chamblin said. "We had nice passes on the goal, and it worked. Glad Ben got the goal because he's a senior, and what a way for a senior to win a game in the sectional tournament."
The entire match had the postseason atmosphere, as the nine-win Indian squad had to play from behind for 30 minutes of the first half as Juan (Nic) Rivas scored the first goal for the Tigers as he put the ball into the back of the net on a header off a kick by Chamblin with 30:32 left in the opening half.
From there, senior keeper Tyler McGuire made some spectacular saves to keep the Tigers out front, but one kick by the Indians did get past McGuire late in the first half when senior Jordan O'Connor scored with 1:37 remaining in the opening 40 minutes on a breakaway with one defender around him, tying the score at 1-1.
"Honestly … we did not play to our full potential (Tuesday)," HHS coach John Weber said. "Our passes and traps were off, and McClain played four defenders, so when our two top scorers are double-teamed every time they get the ball, it is tough to score.
"Credit McClain … they answered everything we did. When we had the ball near their goal in the second half, we couldn't capitalize. Hats off to McClain … they came to play, that's for sure … they came to play."
As for other wacky occurrences in the match … there were four yellow cards served by the officials with each team handed two. The yellow cards were delivered for a uniform violation, aggressive player near a keeper on the ground, a block in the back and language. Three of the four yellow cards were delivered in the second half.
In the aforementioned second half, both teams had numerous chances to add to their scoring, but the shots didn't go the way of either school until Chamblin's with 2:16 left in regulation.
Coach Chamblin spoke about playing a team for the third time.
"We know them, and they know us. Our kids came to play, and they were ready to play," he said. "Sometimes it is hard to get a team to play with intensity, but (Tuesday) this kids did."
As for the Indians, seven seniors played their final game for HHS including: Brandon Carter, Connor Ernst, Jarrod Hart, Reese Leibreich, Jordan O'Connor, Michael Tamborski and Daniel Theobold.
"The seniors played their heart out in the game," Weber said. "I've never been more proud of a senior class as I am with this one. Every year since I've been here, we've improved our record, and I'm very pleased with this season overall … it just wasn't the ending I wanted.
"This loss is heartbreaking and I feel bad for the seniors."
HHS ends the season at 9-5-3 overall.
For the victorious Tigers, they move on to the sectional finals on Saturday, Oct. 20 as they will face either No. 2 Circleville or No. 7 Logan Elm at 4 p.m.