D3 District Semifinals Ashland Soccer Complex
Crestview vs Mansfield Chr.
Flames Headed To District Final
Knock Out #3 Crestview 2-1
Mansfield Christian is going to its third District Final in school history after defeating Crestview 2-1 on Tuesday night at the Ashland Community Soccer Complex.
The third-seeded Lady Flames controlled the ball in Crestview's end for most of the first half, but it would be the second-seeded Lady Cougars that would get on the board in the 20th minute when Kathleen Leeper got behind the Mansfield Christian defense and beat the keeper for a 1-0 lead. Crestview's advantage would hold up at the half, despite MC having a 12-2 shot differential in the match.
The score remained the same until the 60th minute when Olivia Bekeleski put a shot on net from 30 yards away that found the top corner of the net equalizing the match at one.
The Lady Flames then took the lead in the 77th minute when Bekeleski crossed the ball in front of the net to freshman Abby Little, who was able to beat the keeper with a go-ahead goal with under four minutes to play.
The Lady Cougars had a chance to tie in the 79th minute when Leeper again got free behind the defense but was tripped setting up a free-kick that she sent just wide of the net.
The Lady Flames fell to Crestview 3-1 and 3-2 in the regular season before finally breaking through Tuesday night clinching their first trip to the District Championship since making back-to-back finals in 2007 and 2008.
Mansfield Christian (11-6-1) will next face #1 Liberty Benton (16-1-1) in Findlay Saturday at 3 pm.
Crestview finishes their impressive season at 16-2-1 as they lose six seniors: Carly Campo, Dakota Fletcher, Eden McFarland, Skylar Branham, Emily Fry and Leeper.