Late overtime goal ends Maumee’s girls soccer season in district semifinal

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

Over the last five seasons, Maumee and Sandusky Perkins have built something of a rivalry on the girls soccer pitch. Playing annually during that span, the Panthers had held a 4-0-1 record on the Pirates and a 8-1 goals advantage.

So when Maumee drew top-seeded Perkins in the district semifinal, it was bound to be a classic matchup.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, though, the Pirates broke their winless streak in the series, winning 1-0 in the latest stages of overtime to end Maumee’s season.

“The girls did a great job working hard and competing to the very end against a very good team in Perkins,” Maumee coach Jeremiah McNutt said. “I am very proud of the effort throughout the season.”

The two squads played to a scoreless draw for more than 99 minutes of game time, but a Pirates player put in a rebound off a shot from 20 yards away to end the game.

“It was a back-and-forth game with both teams getting chances throughout,” McNutt said. “It came down to an unlucky bounce. A shot from 20 yards out forced a diving save from (goalkeeper) Lauren (Liwo), and the rebound was put home.”

The Panthers ended the season with an 8-8-2 record. It put the stamp on an incredible career for the senior class, including the most games ever played by a graduating class (78 in four years) and the first graduating class with a .500-or-better record in a decade.

The 21 goals allowed by Maumee this season was the fewest since 1990.

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com