Bristol upends South Range in OT, 3-2

By Jim Flick

SALEM — The Bristol High boys soccer team won the Division III District soccer championship Saturday by scoring a goal in overtime to defeat South Range 3-2.

Bristol (13-6) will play the Chardon district winner in a regional semifinal game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brunswick High School.

“These guys are unselfish,” said Bristol coach Michael Moore. “For a small school to do what these guys did is outstanding.”

Bristol was led by junior Andrew Holko, the team’s leading scorer, who had a hand in all three of the Panthers’ goals.

He has scored 28 goals this season, including two Saturday. Holko already has been named to the county and district all-star teams, and has been nominated for All-Ohio honors.

“[Holko] has turned into a good team player, and that’s what it’s all about,” the coach said. “He’s an outstanding player, and is doing everything he can to help his teammates become better players.”

Holko turned aside praise for his individual efforts.

“As long as we won, that’s all that’s important,” he said.

Holko knocked home the first goal, unassisted, 12 minutes into the game. But South Range (14-3-2) evened the score about six minutes later when freshman Tyler Ausnehmer smacked home a goal from short range on a crisp pass from senior Justin Niemie.

Bristol regained the lead four minutes later when Holko scored a second unassisted goal.

South Range tied the game 2-2 early in the second half when sophomore Jordan Baker headed in a goal off of a corner kick by senior Clayton Proch.

In the nearly 33 minutes of remaining regulation time, both teams struggled with high winds, which often pushed passes farther or in different directions than intended, and the muddy condition of the playing field.

After two 40-minute periods of regulation, Bristol and South Range squared off in a 15-minute sudden-death overtime period. Bristol won the coin toss and chose to defend the upwind end of the field. Moore said afterward that having the wind at their backs played a key role.

The teams battled back and forth for more than seven minutes before Holko launched a shot at South Range’s goal. South Range’s goalie turned away Holko’s shot, but freshman Chad Oliver found the ball and smacked home a goal to give Bristol the 3-2 win 7:49 into overtime.

“I’m disappointed, but we played hard, they played hard,” said South Range coach Bill Wagenhouser. “We’ll be back. I’ve got a good group of guys. We’re a young team.”

Bristol goalie Brian Urso recorded 14 saves, according to Moore, while two South Range goalies were credited with 11 saves.

“We don’t score enough,” said Wagenhouser. “All year, our games were closer than they should have been.

“But there’s always next year.”