BATTLING FOR THE BALL — Big Red’s James Devereux and Brooke’s Evan Urso battle for posession during Tuesday’s OVAC Class 5A quarterfinal match at Harding Stadium. – Andrew Grimm
STEUBENVILLE – Big Red’s second meeting with Brooke in 12 days was nearly a carbon copy of the first.
When the teams met on Oct. 12, also at Harding Stadium, the Bruins took an early lead then Big Red got rolling and pulled away. Tuesday night in a rematch in the OVAC Tournament Class 5A quarterfinals, Brooke again took an early lead, but once again it was Steubenville that pulled ahead, this time for a 9-3 victory to reach the semis.
Big Red won the prior meeting, 8-3. In that meeting, Big Red scored six unanswered after trailing 3-2. On Tuesday, Steubenville again netted five-straight to take control after falling behind 2-1 early.
“Somehow we got off to a slow start again, we had chances to finish and just didn’t finish … I told them at halftime just to wash it away like they did the last time,” Big Red head coach Greg Bowers said. “I thought once we got a few (to go in) we would open it up and we did.
“We have a good group of seniors that lead us. They’ve been here, they know sometimes soccer is frustrating like that when they’re not going in. They stuck with it, stuck to the plan and got a good victory.”
Cole Bowers scored a hattrick for Big Red, now 7-1-3, while Luke Dinovo netted two goals and an assist and Landon Bowers scored a pair of goals. Hayden Hicks registered three assists, while Ethan Llewellyn and Drew Stimpert each assisted on two goals. Brady Dinovo and Tad Loot also found the back of the net.
Michael Daoush and Evan Urso scored first-half goals for the Bruins (4-7-2) to give the visitors and the No. 6 seed in the tournament a lead halfway through the opening 40 minutes.
By the time the Bruins scored their third goal, though, a Chase Hile shot from distance that snuck inside the post with under 15 minutes to go in the game, Big Red had found the back of the net five times
“We made a few mistakes and things happened,” Brooke head coach Joe Pepe said. “We made some mistakes, but I’m proud of the kids. They didn’t let down and kept playing hard. (Credit to) Big Red, they found a couple things and capitalized on them. I wish them luck as they go through.
“It’s a tough class to get into the tournament especially after losing nine starters from last year. Our kids played hard to the final whistle. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but the sun will come up tomorrow, we’ll get ready to play another match.”
Cole Bowers netted his first of three on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute, then, about 11 minutes later, Llewellyn sent a perfectly placed throw in to Luke Dinovo, who steered it into the net to make it 3-2 Big Red at halftime.
Several other Steubenville chances came close but did not connect. In the second half, similar to the first meeting, those chances started to go in.
Just 11 seconds after the second half started, Hicks crossed a ball to Cole Bowers who knocked it into the net out of midair for a 4-2 lead.
After another Big Red goal was waived off for offsides, Hicks again had a perfect set up, this time to Brady Dinovo to make it 5-2 less than four minutes into the second half.
Cole Bowers connected again with under 15 minutes to play, then, after Hile’s goal for Brooke inside the 10 minute mark, Hicks had another good set up of Luke Dinovo, then Landon Bowers, who also had Big Red’s first goal, scored on a long shot and Loot connected from in close to cap the scoring.
Big Red’s Robby Lucas made six saves. Brooke’s Chance Brotzstek made 14 saves before leaving with an injury. The Bruins used three keepers in the game as his replacement was also injured.
With the win, Big Red moves on to take on No. 2 seed Morgantown on the road Thursday in the semifinals. Pepe said Brooke was hoping to pick up a game Thursday with another team that didn’t advance in the tournament.
“We get another opportunity against Morgantown to see what we’re made of,” coach Bowers said. “We know it’s going to be a task, they’re good and sound. We’ll prepare (today) and see what we can do.”
