By the Springfield News Sun

It wasn’t supposed to end this way for Greenon. But then again, after losing all nine of their games by a combined 11 goals, it figured.

With 3:14 left in their Division II sectional final against No. 2 seed Tipp City on Wednesday night, the Knights (9-9-1) were whistled for a penalty in their own box. That’s where the Red Devils’ Mike Porto ended Greenon’s season — on a penalty kick, handing the visitors a 1-0 loss.

“I was under the impression it was a hard play,” Knights coach Jeff Nickles said. “It appeared to me the guy tripped over the ball, but the ref called it.”

Winners of six of their final eight matches, the Knights end the season with a .500 record and a little bitterness.

“It’s a tough way to go out,” Nickles said. “It was a great season for the kids no matter what. We had our chances tonight, but they definitely outplayed us.”

It was an improvement from the 3-1 loss to the Red Devils earlier in the season. Brett Woldruff had 12 saves in the goal for the Knights.

Tipp City (13-3-2) will play at top-seeded Northwestern (14-3-1) for the district title on Saturday at 2 p.m. It’s the second straight year the two teams have squared off in the district final, with Northwestern winning last season in double overtime.

View article at SNS