SIDNEY — Lehman Catholic secured its grip on first place in the Western Ohio Soccer League on Thursday with a 3-2 victory over Lima Central Catholic.
Lehman’s Jake Emrick got the hat trick with all three scores, two off assists from Ethan Potts and Michael Denning. Emrick’s third goal was buried via penalty kick.
With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 6-3-1 overall and 6-0-1 in the WOSL, while Central Catholic drops to 5-2-1 in the league. The Thunderbirds are in second place in the league, while Jackson Center (6-3-3, 4-0-3) is third.
The Cavaliers grabbed a 2-0 lead going into halftime, but Lehman coach Tom Wiseman didn’t feel secure with the lead.
“I told the players at halftime that it was far from over,” Wiseman said. “There’s a reason that LCC has had a good year and is second in the league — they are hard-nosed and refuse to quit.”
Emrick put the Cavaliers up 3-0 with the penalty kick, but Central Catholic came storming back. The Thunderbirds put their first one across on an amazing run and goal by Xanan Ruiz.
“That was maybe the most impressive effort on a goal I’ve seen all year,” Wiseman said. “Every time I thought he was gonna either lose his footing or lose the ball, he just kept going.”
LCC caught a break when its second score came off of an own-goal deflection off the leg of Lehman right back Tommy Hamlin.
“When I took Tommy out for a break, I told him that he was doing what he was supposed to do… it was just an unlucky moment,” Wiseman said. “Tommy has been a surprise step-up this year and is one of our most improved players.”
The Cavaliers play next at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Yellow Springs.
Sidney 1, St. Marys 1
Jalen Hudgins scored Sidney’s goal in Thursday’s tie with the Roughriders off an assist by Damien Jones.
“We played extremely well tonight on both sides of the field,” Sidney coach Jamie Fridley said. “We beat them in possession for most of the game, and our defenders held them scoreless for most of the game.”
Sidney goalie Noah Houts had nine saves in the game.
“He has played really well all season long, with no experience on varsity last season,” Fridley said.
Sidney (6-6-1) plays next on Saturday night at home against Miamisburg.
New Knoxville 4, Lincolnview 0
Joseph Baende, Zach Davis, Chris Covert and Ben Lammers scored goals for the Rangers in Thursday’s WOSL game against Lincolnview. Jonah Lageman had an assist and Ryland Dyrness had four saves at goalie, including one on a penalty kick.
The Rangers (5-6, 4-3 WOSL) play next on Saturday at Continental.
Botkins 8, Spencerville 0
Andrew Monnin and Nate Schneider each had two goals on Thursday, while Zane Paul, Conner Smock, Josh Johnson and Justin Shuga each tallied one goal. Zane Paul, Conner Smock and Zack Ware all had assists.
The Trojans improved to 5-2-2 overall with the win and and 3-1-1 in the WOSL. They return to action at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday against Twin Valley South.
Jackson Center 3, Temple Christian 2
Bryce Sosby scored two goals and Gavin Booser added another to earn the Tigers a WOSL win on Thursday. Jackson Center (6-3-3, 4-0-3) plays next on Tuesday at West Liberty-Salem.
Girls Soccer
Lehman Catholic 5, Lima Central Catholic 0
Lehman improved to 9-2-1 overall with the win on Thursday.
Grace Olding, Olivia Monnin, Lindsey Magoteaux, Grace Monnin and Samantha Edwards all had goals for Lehman. Rylie McIver had two assists, while Samantha Edwards and Ava Behr had one each. Camille Brown had a shutout at goalie.
Lehman’s next game is Saturday at home against Cincinnati Summit Country Day.
Botkins 5, Delphos St. John’s 0
Paige Lane and Katie Egbert scored two goals and freshman Madison Wendel added another in the Trojans’ win on Thursday night. Lane, Sydney Meyer, Jenna Free and Cassie McGowan each had assists.
Botkins (6-4-3, 3-2-1 Western Ohio Soccer League) has won four games in a row and plays next on Thursday at home against Lima Central Catholic.
Volleyball
Anna 3, Russia 0
The Rockets beat Russia 25-21, 26-24 and 25-20 on Thursday.
Ashley Landis led the Rockets with 14 kills while Macy Wiktorowski had 12 kills and four block assists and Emma Meyer had nine kills and seven block assists. Lexi Wells had 33 assists and 17 digs, Lindsey Barhorst had 15 digs, Abby Counts had 12 digs and Rachel Shoemaker and Carly Becker each had 10 digs.
Anna (11-6 overall) stays in first place in the SCAL with the win with an 8-2 record, while Russia (11-7) drops to third at 6-3. Fort Loramie is in second place with a 7-2 record league.
Anna plays next on Saturday at Lehman Catholic, while the Raiders host Tri-Village on Saturday.
Jackson Center 3, Botkins 0
The Tigers beat Botkins 25-9, 25-10 and 25-21 on Thursday in SCAL action.
Raquel Kessler led Jackson Center with 17 kills and Caroline Frieders had eight kills and 16 assists. Kessler and Frieders each had seven digs, while Madilynn Platfoot had 18 assists. Connor Pipke had 10 digs and Katie Sosby had three aces and 21 digs.
Danielle Schwartz had 13 digs and seven kills for the Trojans, while Jannelle Greve had 15 digs and three blocks.
Jackson Center (9-6, 5-3) plays in a tri-match at West Liberty-Salem on Saturday, while Botkins (6-12, 3-6) plays next on Tuesday at Russia.
Fairlawn 3, Houston 2
The Jets won the fifth set 15-9 to defeat Houston in Thursday’s SCAL match. Houston won the second game 25-15 and fourth game 25-21, while Fairlawn won the first game 25-22 and third game 25-19.
Lauren Dudgeon had 13 kills, five blocks, 16 digs and three aces for Fairlawn (4-13, 1-8). MaCalla Huelskamp had 13 digs and three kills while Brittany Strunk had 12 assists and 14 digs. Grace Hageman had 11 assists, Kenedee Gallimore had 37 digs and Lauren Weinschenk had 26 digs.
Alyssa Kemp had 23 digs and 34 assists for the Wildcats, while Olivia Bowser had 22 digs and six kills Jessica Monnier had five kills, two aces and three blocks and Sarah Monnier had 14 kills, 25 digs and two aces. Hayden Riesenbeck had five kills and 14 digs, Hannah Bixler had four kills and 15 digs and Amber Stangel had 35 digs.
Fairlawn’s next game is Tuesday at Jackson Center, while Houston (5-11, 2-8) plays next at home on Saturday in a tri-match with Newton and Riverside.
New Bremen 3, Coldwater 2
Michigan commit Paige Jones led the Cardinals with 44 kills in Thursday’s Midwest Athletic Conference win. Julia Goettemoeller had 10 kills, while Rachel Kremer had nine kills.
The Cavaliers won the second game 25-23 and fourth game 25-19 while New Bremen won the second 25-20, third 25-23 and fifth 15-11.
Abbi Thieman had 31 assists for New Bremen while Madison Pape had 30. Blake Snider had 19 digs and Kremer had 15.
The Cardinals (12-1, 5-1 MAC) are tied for first play in the conference with Coldwater, St. Henry and Versailles. They play next on Saturday at the Van Wert Invitational.
Versailles 3, New Knoxville 0
Tasia Lauth had seven kills and Tayler Doty had six in the Rangers’ MAC loss on Thursday. Faith Homan had 13 digs and Carly Fledderjohann had 18 assists.
Versailles won 25-13, 25-18 and 25-10. The Tigers improved to 9-3 overall and 5-1 in the MAC with the win. New Knoxville (6-6, 2-4 MAC) plays next on Saturday at the Van Wert Invitational.
Marion Local 3, Minster 1
Minster won the first set 25-23 but the Flyers won the last three 25-20, 25-16 and 27-25 to take the MAC match on Thursday.
Paige Thobe led the Wildcats with 11 kills, while Taylor Hoying and Taylor Kogge each had nine. Regan Wuebker had three aces and nine digs, while Emily Stubs had 28 digs and Danielle Barhorst had 15 digs.
Riverside 3, Elgin 1
Riverside won the last two sets to beat Marion Elgin on Thursday in an NWCC match. The Pirates won the first set 25-18, lost the second 27-25 and won the third and fourth 25-21 and 25-19.
Shelby Giles had 15 kills, Marissa Davis had 16 kills, and Lauryn Sanford had 18 assists for the Pirates (12-3). Riverside plays next on Saturday in a tri-match at Houston.
Girls Tennis
Carroll 3, Lehman Catholic 2
The Lehman Catholic girls tennis team dropped a match to Carroll 3-2 on Thursday.
In singles, Claire Larger lost 1-6, 7-5, and 6-2, Grace Brandt lost 6-2 and 6-1 and Melanie Brunner lost 6-0 and 6-0.
Lehman swept the doubles matches. Alex Read and Angela Brunner won 6-3 and 6-2 while Kiera Burns and Ann Pannapara won 6-3 and 6-2.
“We honored our four seniors before the match as it was our senior night,” Lehman coach Tim Ungericht said. “Alex (Read) and Melanie (Brunner) are both four-year varsity members of our team and I have coached them since the beginning of my coaching career when they were sophomores.
“We were missing Sarah (Gibson) at second singles who was out with the flu and Grace (Brandt) stepped in and played well in her first varsity singles action.”
Beavercreek B 4, Lehman Catholic 1
In singles on Wednesday, Larger lost 6-4 and 6-0, Gibson lost 6-4, 5-7 and 10-3 and Melanie Brunner won 6-4, 6-7 and 10-4. In doubles, Read and Angela Brunner lost 6-3 and 6-3 and Pannapara and Burns lost 6-4, 3-6 and 6-4.
“It was a tough, close, hard-fought match against a good B team,” Ungericht said. “Sarah (Gibson) was sick with the flu but battled hard against a tough player, and a nice win by Melanie (Brunner). A few points our way in a couple matches and we win this one.”
Lehman (3-13) closes the regular season at Northridge on Monday before playing in the Division II sectional tournament at Troy on Tuesday.
Cross Country
New Bremen wins invitational
New Bremen’s boys and girls won its four-team cross country invitational on Thursday with 23 points and a team time of 1:30:10.
For the boys, Ezra Ferguson and Hunter Waterman were first and second overall with times of 17:23 and 17:42. Sam Rutschilling was fifth with 18:12, Landin Boyle was sixth with 18:16, Kenny Simindinger was ninth with 18:35, Micah Condon was 13th with 19:44 and Spencer Elking was No. 18 with 20:09.
In the girls race, New Bremen had the top four racers. Alayna Thieman was first with 20:25, Andre Hietkamp was second with 21:10, Teresa Lane was third with 21:20 and Carson Wyatt was fourth with 21:50. Rounding out the Cardinals’ top seven was Jessica Fledderjohann at No. 8 with 22:13, Hanna Tenkman at No. 9 with 22:17 and Alana Speelman at No. 10 with 22:17.
New Knoxville’s boys finished third with 74 points and a time of 1:40:19. Zach Privette was the team’s fastest racer at No. 9 with a time of 18:33.
New Knoxville’s girls were fourth. Abbi Maggi was the team’s fastest runner at No. 18 with a time of 23:19.
