DIVISION I SOCCER Howland suffers 2-1 loss to N.C. Hoover

The winning goal came with less than three minutes remaining.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HOWLAND -- North Canton Hoover High senior Amanda Waltz has been a clutch player for the Vikings all season and she came up big again Wednesday.
Waltz scored the game-winning goal with 2 minutes, 37 seconds remaining, to lift Hoover past Howland 2-1 in a Division I district semifinal at Lombardo Field.
Waltz, who began the game with 29 goals and 16 assists, scored when midfielder Jillian Martin drew Howland keeper Melissa Airhart to her side.
Martin, who has 15 assists, then fired a pass to Waltz, who drilled it into the far side of the net.
"I saw the goalkeeper come out and the defender take the front post, so I cut the ball back from the endline and aimed for the far post," said Waltz, who scored three goals in a 4-3 district semifinal win over Howland two years ago.
"This has been four years of drama for us," said Hoover coach Ronda Berger, who was an assistant coach for the Vikings when they played Howland in the tournament the past three years.
"This was the best of them all. A great match to play and a great one to win."
Jumped out early
Hoover took an early lead when junior forward Aleesha Denmeade drilled her 25th goal of the season from 18 yards out.
"It was a breakaway opportunity and I took full advantage of it," Denmeade said.
Howland (14-4) held a 15-2 shot advantage in the first half and finished with a 31-8 edge. Howland junior Emily Phipps scored the Tigers' only goal on an assist from senior Whitney Crain with 11:21 remaining in the game.
"We had a great year and dominated tonight, but we just couldn't knock it in the net," said Howland coach Gary Anderson. "These kids played their hearts out tonight and I am prouder of them than I have ever been."
Hoover (12-3-4), advanced to play at Austintown Fitch in the district final at 7 p.m. Saturday.