By Greg Billing for the Dayton Daily News

WEST CARROLLTON | In a span of 21 minutes Carroll's boys soccer season went from bleak to boisterous on Saturday.

The Patriots forced overtime with just nine seconds left in regulation, then won its third straight regional final with a 3-2 double-overtime win over Sunbury Big Walnut. The win in front of about 1,400 spectators at West Carrollton High School — about a 1,100 of them from Carroll and making it known — moved Carroll into the Division II state semifinals at Dublin Coffman High School on Tuesday.

In the second overtime, Carroll's Jeff Popella took John Laurin's pass just past midfield. Popella, with a pair of defenders on both sides, managed to fire past BW's keeper for the winner.

The win set off a celebration as the Patriots' student section attempted to rush the field, a far contrast from about 20 minutes earlier. Trailing 2-1 and the Patriots frantically trying to score, Carroll's Ben Christoff calmly sent a direct kick from the corner in front of BW's net. Teammate James Haley knocked in the header with nine seconds left.

"I was still trying but the way things were looking I was pretty down," Popella said. "I didn't want our season to be over."

After a scoreless first half, the teams combined for three goals in two minutes. The Golden Eagles' Braden Fleak made it 1-0 with 36 minutes left in the second half and Popella tied it with 34:33 to go on a penalty kick. BW's David Bowman then made it 2-1 just 26 seconds later.

Fleak's speed challenged Carroll, but the Patriots did a good job limiting his chances. With the one-goal lead, BW elected to focus on defense rather than attack.

"Sitting back finally got to us," BW coach Charlie Brodhead said. "The last two times it worked for us."

It did again except for nine seconds on Saturday. The state semifinal appearance is Carroll's third straight and fifth overall.

Greeneview 2, Fenwick 0
The top-ranked Rams are going to the Division III state semifinals for the first time in school history after a win Saturday night at Fairborn High School.

Ryan Hartman and Dustyn Bryan scored for Greeneview, which won its 21st straight game.

The Rams play Worthington Christian at Dublin Scioto High School at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Fenwich finishes (17-3-1).

View Article at DDN