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Girard boys soccer team notches first tournament victory
By Ryan Buck
GIRARD
Four seasons ago, the Girard High soccer program was non-existent. Tuesday night, the boys program — led by 11 seniors who have been with the program from its inception — brought the school its first postseason victory.
The Indians took an early lead over Niles, withstood the Red Dragons’ scoring chances and the choppy pace of play and added a late insurance goal to earn a 2-0 Division II sectional victory on their home field.
Longtime area soccer coach Harry Leith has guided the group — most of whom had never played the sport — as a club team and on through their official Ohio High School Athletic Association sanctioning.
“I started the [recreation] leagues here 26 or 27 years ago with the purpose of getting a boys program at this school,” Leith said through a lingering Scottish accent while picking water cooler-dumped ice cubes out of his collar. “That didn’t happen.”
A 12-year stint at Ursuline eventually led him back to Girard as a group of parents kick-started the soccer movement once again.
“I was hearing a rumor so once I got on board, I guess that gave credence so that’s when I got involved,” he said. “This is only our second year, but we’ve done all right, ya know? It’s paid off and [my team] deserves it.”
Seven minutes into the match, senior Dylan O’Hara’s picturesque cross led Kyle Cario to goal, where the burly senior placed a left-footed shot past Niles’ all-district goalkeeper John Mizgerd.
From there, physicality and a referee’s quick whistle intervened. Both teams played the majority of the match with 10 players. Matching red cards were issued when a scuffle ensued with just over 28 minutes left in the first half.
“I think it was a hard night for both teams,” said Niles coach Josh MacMillan, whose sentiments were echoed by the opposition. “There was some chippy stuff early and neither team had any intent, but I think most of us got focused on things like the officials.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more [from my team]. Almost every guy here played 80 minutes.”
Mizgerd kept his team in the match, demonstrating poise under pressure as obvious as his skills.
At the 29:55 mark of the first half, Mizgerd flew off his goal line to poke a well-placed pass away from a charging Matt Lewis before he could release a strong shot.
With 18:15 left, Mizgerd’s heady play saved perhaps another goal. Mizgerd again left his line, racing out to the top of the 18-yard box to meet a sprinting Lewis.
As Lewis lunged over two would-be defenders, Mizgerd beat him to the ball, heading it backward into his 18-yard box,where he legally caught the ball on its way down before Lewis could change direction.
Two minutes later, Mizgerd lunged to his right to deflect away a well-struck shot off the right foot of Isiaiah Dunivant. Girard forward Jeremy Smith’s clinical header sailed wide left past Mizgerd’s far post.
Girard goalie Chris Mariano — a keen set of eyes hidden behind contemporary Rec Specs — matched his counterpart save-for-save, especially a low line drive from Tristan Fabian with 6:50 left in the game.
Mizgerd denied Lewis once more on a close-range shot with 4:50 left, but a dull and confusing whistle momentarily slowed play before Will Rich — another Girard senior — buried a failed clearance attempt for the 2-0 lead.
Once he saw his teammates douse Leith with what was left of their team water jug as the seconds ticked away, captain Zack Burrelli took a moment to savor the unlikely journey.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “Two years ago not having a team and we put in all the hard work to get a team, playing as a club team and taking on some good teams that first year.
“We played our first postseason game last year — and you see where you have to be to compete in those games — and we put in the work this offseason and in practice every day. It’s really nice to have it all come out in a win at the end.”