DIVISION I SOCCER Canton McKinley beats Boardman in sectional

The Spartans took more shots, but they were low-percentage shots.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- The Boardman High boys soccer team took more shots on goal than Canton McKinley in Monday night's Division I sectional tournament opener.
But the Spartans found it difficult to penetrate inside, and most of their attempts were from far away and failed to find the net.
However, the Bulldogs were able to work the ball in close several times, and got the only score of the game on junior Brent Long's short tap-in early in the second half on an assist from senior Andy Doepker that held up for a 1-0 victory.
"One of the [Boardman] defenders cleared [the ball] up and Long got control of it and got around the defender. Basically he's just a skilled player," said McKinley coach Pat Downing. And, "[Doepker] got off a deliberate pass to Brent and Brent beat the defender."
The Bulldogs (11-4-2) advanced to play North Canton Thursday at 7 p.m. at North Canton.
Didn't corner him
Boardman (6-9-2) coach Ahmet Olgun said his defense didn't corner Long and allowed him room to maneuver with the ball.
"[Long] is their most skilled player [but] we didn't watch him closely," said Olgun.
"I told them at halftime that [Long] is the only man to watch. He is the only threat on the team."
Downing said Long, a third-team All-Ohio last year, bounced back from a severe leg injury and that the Bulldogs have been a different team since his return.
"He broke two bones in his left leg in March during indoor soccer season, and missed our first three games. We were 0-2-1 or first three games."
Many kicks go awry
Boardman enjoyed a 13-10 advantage in shots, but many of the kicks were right at goalie Jason Christman or else too high or too wide. Christman had 11 saves. Spartans' goalie Evan James had about five saves.
Joe Campesi took about five shots for Boardman, while Leon Yarmolinsky and Ryan Depp tried about three each.
"I think they were taking the opportunities when they had them," said Downing of Boardman's failure to penetrate for the high-percentage shot. "Our defense was playing pretty strong. Our defenders were covering well."
kovach@vindy.com