Trobek’s late goal lifts Hubbard to D-II title

By BOB ETTINGER

sports@vindy.com

NILES

Hubbard striker A.J. Trobek won’t try and kid you. There was a moment after he struck the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over Howland in a Division II district championship match at Bo Rein Stadium in which the nerves hit him. Hard.

“There is some extreme anxiety until you see the back of the net shake,” Trobek said. “Then it’s amazing.”

Trobek took a pass from Jacob Gulu and sent it into the net to break a 2-2 tie with 4:03 to play.

“I cut in and I saw an opening,” Gulu said. “I played it through and trusted [Trobek] would score. He scored 30-some goals for us this year. I trusted he’d put it in and he did.”

Trobek understood exactly what Gulu was saying.

“[Gulu] came over from Campbell this year and we’ve grown a strong bond on and off the field,” Trobek said. “It’s just a feeling. I knew he’d get me the ball and he knew I’d be there.”

The Eagles (18-0-1) had not played in a district final in 20 years and have never played in a regional tournament. They will play Chesterland West Geauga in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Twinsburg High School.

“We want to celebrate tonight,” Hubbard coach Cory Reinard said. “We don’t know much about [West Geauga]. It’s been 20 years since we’ve been to a district final and I played in the one [we were in] before that. We’re not used to this. The guys are ready for it. They’re up for the challenge.”

The Tigers (14-3-2) had knotted the score, 2-2, on a free kick by Austin Stassinis with 5:54 remaining.

“We’re a young team,” Howland coach Brian Stiles said. “We return 17 of 22 players from this game next year. Their character showed and that’s something we can build on.”

Hubbard drew first blood when Michael VanSuch scored with 4:44 to play in the first half.

“That first goal was just a fantastic shot,” Stiles said. “There’s no defense for the shot he hit on us. I just tip my cap to the kid who hit it.”

Howland answered with a Stassinis goal with 2:21 left in the half.

Gulu assisted Anthony Gagliardi as the Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the seventh minute of the second half.

“At the half, we talked about what they were doing to us,” Reinard said. “We are just as dynamic as their goals were. We wanted to draw them out and get [the ball] inside the slots and we did it.”