ASHLAND — Sammy-on-the-spot saved the day and sent Mansfield Christian to the Elite Eight.
Samuel Paul, a sophomore midfielder known to all as Sammy, scored a goal from about 25 yards out with 5:21 remaining in regulation and the Flames held on for a 2-1 win over Elyria Catholic in a Division III regional semifinal match at Community Stadium.
MCS, ranked second in Division III in the final Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association state poll, improved to 19-1 and will play Kalida for a regional crown and a berth in the Final Four at noon on Saturday at Findlay High School. Kalida beat Toledo Ottawa Hills 2-1 in double overtime in Tiffin on Wednesday.
Elyria Catholic, ranked third in Division III in the final OSSCA state poll, finished the season 15-4-1.
Paul, who scored Mansfield Christian’s first goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Findlay Liberty-Benton in the district title game, took a pass from David Cochran and settled the ball before unloading on Elyria Catholic goal keeper Marty Conroy from long range.
“David got the ball and he was looking for options,” Paul said. “We made eye contact and I knew exactly where he was going to play it. He played the perfect lay-off to me.
“I just kind of took my touch out. It laid up perfectly on the turf and I knew exactly where it was going. It was going right in.”
Paul’s goal was the capper to an outstanding performance by Mansfield Christian. The Flames fell behind 1-0 in the second minute of the match when Jacob Cline beat MCS keeper Caleb Young and were outplayed for about 15 minutes before momentum began to swing their way.
“In a game like this, you know it’s going to be close,” MCS coach Jesse Rider said. “Our guys battled. We got scored on early, but they were able to be resilient. They battled for 80 minutes.
“We came out a little flat and couldn’t hang onto the ball and gave them so many opportunities.”
That Elyria Catholic led only 1-0 after the opening salvo was a testament to Young and the MCS defense. The Panthers had several early scoring opportunities but couldn’t add to their lead.
“We hit the post twice right off the bat,” Elyria Catholic coach Attila Csiszar said. “I tell the boys the first five minutes is where it’s at. It generally dictates the tempo of the game.
“I think we did a good job for the first 10 to 15 minutes of the game and then they possessed the ball well.”
The slow start lit a fire underneath the Flames. Elyria Catholic’s early goal was the first scored against MCS in four tournament games.
“That’s the first goal we’ve had scored on us this whole tournament,” Paul said. “It was deflating but I knew as soon as they scored it our seniors would pick us up.
“In the beginning of the game we weren’t really playing our game. We were hitting long balls in and that’s just not what we do as a team. We possess more,” Paul said. “Their first goal actually helped us a little bit by settling us down and letting us know this is a good team and we’ve got to play now.”
The Flames settled into their deliberate ball possession game as the half wore on. Mansfield Christian moved the ball quickly through the midfield and stayed a step ahead of the Panthers.
“They were knocking it from the left side to the right side and then it becomes a game … of chase. For a little bit we were chasing the ball.”
Cochran scored the equalizer on a rebound with 8:54 remaining in the opening half. Brendan Ernsberger took a pass from Josh Cochran and fired a shot that bounded off the post. David Cochran collected the loose ball and tucked it into the back of the net.
Elyria Catholic outshot the Flames 8-3 in the first half. MCS took nine second-half shots on goal to Elyria Catholic’s five.
“That’s how most games go because our team does so much fitness,” Paul said. “After 10 or 15 minutes in, they are done chasing and they can’t keep up with us.”
Saturday, the Flames will try to advance to the Final Four for a second time in three years.
“I think we can go as deep as we want to,” Paul said. “We control our own destiny.”
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
“I think we can go as deep as we want to,” Paul said. “We control our own destiny.”
