Sectional: Bath 1 Wapakoneta 0

Sectional action got underway in Wapakoenta this evening as the Redskins hosted the Bath Wildcats.  The weather conditions were near perfect and the pitch was in good condition.  Veteran officials Mr. Doug Billerman and Mr. Randy Keeler were on hand to oversee the action. I would be remiss if I did not give special mention to Mr. Denny Faller who does an outstanding job of announcing the action at Ryan Field.

Wapakoneta began the match in a 1-4-4-2 formation and this is noted in part because the Redskins tend to use multiple formational alignments throughout each contest. Bath began the match in a 4-2-3-1 which is becoming ever more popular in the high school ranks.



From the opening whistle it was clear both teams were hyped up for this contest as the early action was hectic and a bit disjointed.  It looked like the first team to settle in and establish their rhythm could seize control of the match. That is what eventually happened as Wapakoneta slowly began to assert itself.  In the games 12th minute Alex Lause, the Redskins freshman striker, found himself in behind the Wildcat defense. From the Redskins left flank Lause played a beautiful cross along the 6 yard line where Sam Hinegardner and Cody Benny both had opportunities to put Wapakoenta up early. Neither was able to cleanly play the ball and Bath dodged an early bullet.

In the games 20th minute Redskin junior midfielder Colin Lenhart played a beautiful cross from the right flank and onto the head of fellow junior midfielder Luke Williams.  The attempted shot off Williams head missed just wide as Bath dodged another early bullet.  One got the feeling if the Redskins kept the attacking pressure on it would only be a matter of time before they put one in the goal.

Wapakoneta's Alex Lause was played in behind the Bath defense in the games 32nd minute. From my perspective it appeared Lause was clearly offside on the play. As Lause went hard to goal Bath goalkeeper Cam Clark came out to meet the challenge and came up with a huge deflection save. As the ball caromed about Clark quickly regained position and made a second save, this one of a shot off the foot of Luke Williams.

Late in the half the Wildcats subbed junior midfielder Austin Lauf into the game and momentum almost immediately swung in Bath's favor.  I have watched a handful of Bath games this season and Lauf seems to always make things happen when he steps onto the pitch. It is a mystery to this writer why he doesn't play a more prominent role on the Wildcat team.  With 1:35 left in the first half Lauf collected the ball on the Wildcats left flank and headed for goal.  As the Redskins Will Hinegardner moved to defend, Lauf took the hit, cut the ball back centrally and proceeded into the penalty area from where he struck a hard shot just over the Redskins cross bar.  Easily the best chance the Wildcats had in the frrst half.

Less than a minute later Lauf played Brayton Van Vorce in along the left flank with a beautiful lofted ball into the outside channel. This time the Redskin defender was able to stop the Wildcat advance and the teams went into half time tied at 0 - 0.

Wapakoenta had the better run of play in the first half and momentum really didn't begin to swing to Bath's favor until Lauf entered the game bringing with him energy, urgency and physical presence. It was a development worth noting and one to pay heed to in the second half of action. Wapakoneta had also rolled out a 4-3-3 and eventually employed a 3-5-2 formation as well.  These changes seemed tied to where the Redskins deploy certain players within the alignments.

The second half began with the Redskins surging into the attack early. Just 1:20 into the half Luke Williams had his third solid shot on goal turned away by Bath goalkeeper Cam Clark. This time Clark made a collapse dive save to his left to prevent a Wapakoneta score.

In the games 47th minute Baths Michael Carmen got off a cross to the back post from the Wildcats left wedge. The Wildcats Austin Ricker was there in the midst of the scramble to head the ball in and put Bath up 1 - 0 .  It wasn't the prettiest of headers but to the Bath faithful I am quite sure it was beautiful.

The game was a physical contest throughout but Wapakoneta really ramped up the intensity after Bath score. There seemed to be a lot more verbal sparring between players and silly unnecessary fouling as the game progressed. It quickly became apparent the team that remained poised would likely come out on top of this one.

In what proved to be one of Wapakoneta's best chances in the second half Will Hinegardner played a direct free kick towards goal from the center line that Cam Clark was able to adjust to and make a save on. This action took place in the games 59th minute and seemed to spark a flurry of activity on both ends of the pitch.  In the 60th minute The Wildcats won consecutive corner kicks. On the first, Austin Lauf played a beautiful ball in that was deflected out of bounds by a Redskin defender.  The ensuing corner kick, also taken by Lauf, resulted in three point blank chances by Bath attackers. Each was turned away by Redskin field players in the face of the goal.

With 12:15 left in the match Wapakoneta's Bailey Hinegardner played a direct free kick into the Bath penalty area from a distance of 45 yards.  Bath goalkeeper Cam Cameron came up with yet another big save as it looked like Bailey Hinegardner's shot had a chance to even the score.

I have previously alluded to the chippy nature the game took on, especially after Bath took the lead.  Things came to a head when Wapakoenta's Sam Hinegardner was whistled for his second yellow card caution and sent off the pitch. Now down a man and down a goal Wapakoneta would struggle to seriously threaten goal again. 

For the match Wapakoneta had 6 shots on goal and another 7 shots that missed wide or high.  Bath also generated 6 shots on goal with another 7 shots wide or over the top.

Wapakoneta's Kaleb Miller had 2 saves with Redskin field players accounting for 3 others. In pitching the shutout, Bath's Cam Clark made 6 saves.

Bath advances to play Shawnee Thursday afternoon at 5:00 at Wapakoneta.