Golden Goal: Lexington beats Madison in overtime to claim district title

MANSFIELD — Lexington borrowed a page from the U.S. Women’s National Team’s playbook.

Gavin George headed in the game-winning golden goal with 5:36 remaining in overtime and the Minutemen defended their Division II district soccer title with a 3-2 win over Madison in the district championship match Thursday at Malabar Intermediate School.

Teddy Togliatti triggered the game-winning sequence with a long throw-in that found the head of Gage Potter near the six-yard box. Potter flicked the ball to George, who headed it into the back of the net.

“I’m not ashamed to say that that was a U.S. women’s national team’s historic play to Abby Wambach and she flicks it on,” Lexington coach Peter Them said. “We’ve got the people who can do it.

“I guess if you want to draw it up, that’s the best way to do it.”

George, who had struggled earlier in the match, found himself in the right place at the right time.

“Teddy has a pretty long throw, so he threw it to Gage and he just flicked it on,” George said. “I did the easy job of heading it into the goal. I was just so excited. It feels so good to win a second (district title).

“I was struggling throughout the game in regulation (time) and I just knew I had to pick it up in overtime.”

It didn’t look like overtime would be necessary early as the Minutemen (19-1) jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead. Ryan Parker scored at the 12:21 mark of the first half then added a second goal on a rebound with 8:07 to play before the intermission.

“He is a great player, an All-Ohioan,” George said of his teammate. “He just kept us in the game in the first half.”

Madison (14-4-2) needed less than six minutes to pull even. James Wagner scored on a nifty run through the heart of the Lex defense with 36:56 remaining in the second half.

He then scored on a penalty kick with 34:09 to play in regulation after the Minutemen were whistled for a hand ball in the box.

“The guys are not ones to give up,” Madison coach Tim Lord said. “We just fought and gave them everything we had tonight. We have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Lexington had several scoring opportunities in the second half, but was turned away by Madison keeper Jayden Hawk. The senior made several sensational saves to keep the Rams in the game.

“Jay has that potential to be one of the greatest keepers in this area and he definitely showed it tonight,” Lord said. “He kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win.”

The Minutemen will play either Bay Village Bay or Medina Buckeye in the regional semifinals Wednesday at 7 p.m. at a site to be determined. Bay and Buckeye meet at 4 p.m. Saturday at North Ridgeville.

Bay, which won the Division II coach’s poll crown, beat Lexington 8-0 early in the season.

“We didn’t play that well the first game,”George said. “We can play better.”