Recordpub.com - Rootstown boys soccer team wins district title

By Colin Harris

Record-Courier staff writer

ROOTSTOWN — For the Rootstown Rovers to advance beyond Monday’s Kent Division III district final match with Waterloo, one thing was for sure: They were going to have to play strong.

The Rovers did just that, out-muscling and outlasting the visiting Vikings 2-1 to earn only the second district title in program history.

Because Monday’s game was delayed from its original Saturday slot, the Rovers will get right back into action tonight in a regional semifinal game against Wellington, who won the Chardon district, at Twinsburg High School. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Rovers head coach Charlie Voth said his team owed much of Monday’s win to their regular-season loss to the Vikings — a 4-1 home defeat that was never really in question. It still is Rootstown’s only loss on the season, as they improved to 18-1-1 with Monday’s win.

“Our kids grew up a lot from the first time we played Waterloo,” said Voth. “Waterloo was bigger than us (the first time), and they played more physical. Our young players had to learn to handle that game was big for the maturation of the program.”

On Monday, Rootstown jumped out early when sophomore Ronnie Moss fired a shot into the net to give his team a 1-0 lead with 28:56 remaining in the first half. Moss’ shot clanked off the cross bar before falling to the ground and bouncing across the goal line. Along with his goal, Moss also assisted the Rovers’ second goal to complete a superb effort.

After 20 minutes of back-and-forth action, Waterloo found an answer in the form of sophomore Jacob Podnar.

After a Vikings throw in, Podnar took advantage of confusion near the net to sneak a shot in, tying the game at 1-1.

Showing its championship form, the Rovers were able to break Waterloo’s building momentum with what would be a back-breaking goal as time expired in the first half.

With only 28 seconds left in the half, Moss fired off a shot near the net, but that is where Rootstown senior Josh Hanft leapt into the air and headed the ball past the Vikings’ keeper and into the net for what would become the game-winning goal.

“We were able to equalize the game with Jacob’s score, and we felt like we had the momentum,” said Waterloo head coach Steve Knapp. “To have them score with under 30 seconds to go, you never want that to happen and it was definitely difficult for us.”

Voth said that Hanft’s goal — and his team’s entire gameplan — was made possible by an exploitable part of the Vikings’ strategy.

“(Waterloo) was pushing hard, and we played three people up and transitioned on them,” he said. “They were leaving people up front for us, and we knew we’d be able to do some things on them.”

Rootstown dominated the ball for much of the evening, out-shooting Waterloo 10-4.

Waterloo goalkeeper Jon Pusateri made a number of impressive saves, while Rootstown’s goalkeeper Grant Rost stopped three to preserve the win.

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Kent Division III District Final

ROOTSTOWN 2, WATERLOO 1

(At Rootstown)

WATERLOO 1 0 — 1

ROOTSTOWN 2 0 — 2

First Half — 1. (R) Ronnie Moss; 2. (W) Jacob Podnar; 3. (R) Josh Hanft (Moss).

Second Half — No scoring.

Shots on Goal — Rootstown, 10-4.

Corner Kicks — Rootstown, 4-3.

Goalkeepers/Saves — (W) Jon Pusateri/8; (R) Grant Rost/3.

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Colin Harris can be contacted at charris@recordpub.com or 330-298-1123