By Greg Billing for the Dayton Daily News

CENTERVILLE | Greeneview's Ryan Hartman nearly received a lift upon the shoulders of jubilant classmates on Tuesday, who instead settled for slaps on the back and high fives. Hartman could have used the rest.

Just minutes earlier, Hartman had finished dribbling nearly 80 yards upfield, beating a pair of defenders and ripping the game winner to stun Oakwood 2-1 in overtime of the Division III boys soccer regional semifinals. The win puts the Rams (20-0) in the regional final against Fenwick on Saturday at Fairborn High School.

In a match that Oakwood (12-5-3) dominated in front of about 600 spectators at Centerville Soccer Stadium, it was Greeneview that controlled the scoreboard. The Lumberjacks' defense — keyed by Chris Luther and Justin Quenneville — kept Hartman and the Rams' offense in check. But the Jacks also struggled to dent the net.

Unofficially, Oakwood outshot Greeneview 10-6 and saw a handful of chances sail over goal or go wide.

"They took it to us. They played phenomenal," Greeneview coach Bob Eakins said of an Oakwood team he knew nothing about coming in. "This was probably the least prepared game we were expecting. I didn't even know what their school colors were."

Oakwood, meanwhile, was fully aware of Hartman. The senior striker entered with 25 goals for the Rams, ranked No. 1 in the D-III state poll, and netted the winner in overtime of their first district final win against Springfield Catholic Central.

"He's always very aggressive and we talked about him all week long," Oakwood coach Jeremy Storost said. "He buried the goal on an unstoppable shot."

With 8:51 left in the 15-minute overtime, Hartman gathered in a loose ball and sped ahead of the pack. Racing downfield he had two defenders with him and teammate Brock Gill wide to his left. Hartman shed one defender and got past the second when the Oakwood player made a last-ditch effort to stop the ball. Oakwood's keeper had no chance at stopping the ensuing blast about 10 yards out.

"I had tunnel vision on that one," Hartman said of not seeing Gill. "In a moment like that getting the ball upfield is the first priority. ... This one means the most. This is the most important goal for the team."

Hartman admitted Oakwood's defense frustrated him and the wet field didn't help his footing. The Lumberjacks gave the state's top team all it could handle, but failed to score again after Matt Vail gave Oakwood the lead with 21:37 before the half. Greeneview's Gill tied it four minutes into the second half.

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