Smotzer’s double-OT header lifts Boardman over Perry

October 16, 2014 at 12:10a.m.

Smotzer’s double-OT header

lifts Boardman over Perry

By Steve WILAJ

BOARDMAN

Boardman High midfielder Zach Smotzer has a flair for the dramatic.

During the regular season, the junior’s resume included two key goals in a victory against Mooney and another timely goal in handing Poland its first loss.

“Zach’s come up with some very clutch goals for us this year,” Spartans coach Eric Simione said. “When we need a goal, he’s the guy.”

Smotzer did it again in a Division I sectional tournament matchup with Massillon Perry on Wednesday night. At the 99:05 mark in the second overtime, his header found the back of the net to give sixth-seeded Boardman a 3-2 victory and propel the Spartans into a sectional final at Canton GlenOak on Saturday.

“My quad wasn’t feeling too well, so I knew we needed to get one quick,” Smotzer said. “I saw Brian [Fryda] go down the sidelines and — I haven’t done so well with headers lately — but I just jumped and headed it in.”

It’s exactly what Simione wanted to see from Boardman (10-7) after a tough first overtime period.

“We told them before they went out for the second overtime that we didn’t want to go to [penalty kicks],” he said. “We wanted to end the game as soon as possible.”

The contest would have ended much sooner if not for a Perry goal late in regulation.

The seventh-seeded Panthers (6-10) jumped on the board first in the 12th minute with a goal by Stephen Galica. But Boardman responded with the next two scores — one by Anthony Pallante in the 36th minute and another by Robb Lewis in the 49th minute.

Then, with just 7:47 remaining in regulation, Ben Zuniga knotted the match at 2 to eventually force overtime.

“When they got the first goal, it changed the tempo of the game — we had to pick up the pace,” Simione said. “Then when we did go ahead in the second half, we didn’t do a great job of clearing the ball outside. We gave them too many opportunities in the middle of the field and they eventually tied it.”

But it all set up Smotzer’s heroics.

“It was rough since we were missing one of our best players [Andrew Gable, due to injury],” Smotzer said. “But we pulled through and managed to come out with the win.”

Fryda played a strong game in the net for the Spartans. He collected 13 saves before switching out after the first overtime and setting up Smotzer’s winning goal. Meanwhile, Jake Balizet notched 12 saves for Perry.

“This was a game that had me worried for the past couple of days,” Simione said. “They’re a team that’s hard to score on. We had to be patient.

“Hopefully our guys realize they’re fortunate. When you play a little sloppy, your season can end. But we got lucky tonight and survived.”

Boardman’s matchup at third-seeded GlenOak is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

“We just need to practice hard and persevere again,” Smotzer said. “I believe we can do it.”