LEXINGTON — The monkey is off Ontario’s back.
Addi Pittman scored two goals and the fourth-seeded Warriors upset top-seeded Lexington 2-1 in the Division III district championship match at Lexington.
It’s the first district title for Ontario (13-6-1) since 2016. The Warriors have reached the district final every year since then, only to come up short.
“It feels good,” Ontario coach Larry Atkinson said. “The last week, we’ve had great practices. The kids have been engaged.
“They wanted it.”
A junior forward, Pittman broke the ice in the 16th minute when she took a pass from Kailey Hale and worked down the left side before unloading a left-footed shot over a leaping Lex keeper Claire Hammer.
Lex (10-8-2) scored the equalizer with 29 minutes remaining in the second half. Gabby Lay triggered the sequence with a throw-in that found the foot of Emily Thomas. Thomas sent a crossing pass to the back post, where Alli Laury settled the ball then sent a shot into the lower left corner.
Pittman’s game-winner came with 20:10 remaining in the second half. An Ontario defender cleared the ball from deep in her own end and the ball bounded over a Lex defender. Pittman raced down the left side and knocked it in with her left foot for a 2-1 advantage.
“It feels good to be able to be the one to be able to step up for my team,” said Pittman, who scored two goals in Ontario’s district semifinal win over Norwalk. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Lexington turned up the hat for the final 20 minutes, but was unable to score a second goal.
“We battled,” Lady Lex coach Buck Morton said. “I’ve got not (complaints). I think we’ve got a good core to make this a building block.”
Ontario will play Medina Highland in the regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the regional semifinal at Madison. Highland beat North Olmsted 8-0 in the Brooklyn district final Saturday.
“It’s been a long time since we played in (the regional tournament),” Atkinson said. “It’s a tall challenge. We’ll play hard and see what happens.”